By Kristen Tribe | Published Thursday, September 3, 2009
Since the budget workshop last week, most appointed officials and the entire sheriff's department declined the insurance increase offered by commissioners.
Their decision translates into a $70,000 decrease in the proposed budget, and a slight decrease in the proposed property tax rate to 38.87 cents, which is just half a cent above the effective rate.
Sheriff David Walker said he sent an e-mail to his administration explaining that the actual increase per paycheck would likely be less than $10 after taxes, and he wanted the staff to consider turning down the $379 increase to help lower the tax rate.
He said he was surprised how quickly the staff responded.
"The majority said it was OK. We don't want to set a precedent, but the group recognizes the economy is bad ... It was a way we could give back," he said. "That's kind of the way we wanted to do it. (The administration) ran it through and the majority of the employees said 'we understand.'"
The sheriff's department employs almost 190 people, and their decision meant a $63,000 budget cut.
Commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, in the third floor jury room of the Wise County Courthouse to adopt a budget and tax rate.
Regular business
Commissioners cruised through a run-of-the-mill meeting Monday after a frenzied few weeks of budget workshops and public hearings.
They approved the continuation of the $5 archive fee collection, which funds the preservation and restoration of the county clerk's records.
County Clerk Sherry Parker-Lemon said the fee is used to preserve vital records like births, deaths and marriages, and it is collected when a public document is presented for recording.
Commissioners also approved purchasing radios through a state contract, and Walker asked commissioners to purchase GPS units for the inmate work trucks. Asset manager Diana Alexander said that it would cost $4,060 for the initial hardware for eight vehicles, and there would be a monthly fee of $263.60.
Precinct 3 commissioner Mikel Richardson wasn't convinced it's a necessity. He asked if GPS tracking could be put on a cell phone, and Thomas Kellum, with Warner Radio, said although it's possible, the tracking system won't work if the phone is off or the battery is removed.
Kellum said the cost for GPS on a phone is about $15 per month, but only mid-grade or high-end phones have the appropriate capabilities.
Nolan Warner, with Warner Radio, mentioned that GPS service can be put on the radios that are already in county vehicles, which seemed to pique the interest of the commissioners and Walker.
Commissioners tabled the issue pending further research. Walker also reported that the sheriff's department has been awarded two JAG grants for a total of about $87,000. They are both to be used to purchase various types of equipment.
Martin Woodruff gave a brief report to commissioners on the 2009-2010 fundraising campaign for the United Way of Wise County. This year is the organization's 30th anniversary, and it has set a fundraising goal of $450,000.
Woodruff said United Way is the only comprehensive, countywide charity fund-raising program for local charities, and it supports 27 agencies and programs.
County employees have the option to contribute to the United Way through payroll deductions.
In other business, commissioners:
- approved a preliminary plat extension for Canyon Springs Ranch;
- granted a variance on the drainage plan and approved the final plat for the Rhine Choate Addition;
- authorized Parker-Lemon to accept and appoint Candi Blas as deputy county clerk; and
- accepted a $400 donation to jail industries from the Crafton Cemetery.
