Hybrid Plan Could Be On The Horizon

The Jefferson County Budget Committee met for the first time in the fiscal year 2015/2016. Budget Committee Chairman Scarlett and Jefferson County Finance Director Potts brought General Fund 101-Amendment 1 before the Committee for vote. The amendment listed three items-a $550 line item transfer in data processing supplies for the Election Commission-a line item adjustment in Instructional Supplies and Refunds to adjust salary items to actual cost within the current budget for Building and Zoning -line item adjustment in gasoline for a clerical salary in current approved budget in Environmental. None of the requests impacted fund balance and all were line item adjustments. The Amendment was Approved 6-3 with a Motion from Committee Member Turner and 2nd from Committee Member Tucker (D. Seal, Solomon and Musick No).

Fund Balance Amendment #1 from the County General Fund struggled to find favor, in any form, with the majority of the Committee. The request was for $15,386 from fund balance, as well as line item adjustments of $1000 form Travel and $500 from Office Supplies to restore the Salary cut of the Supervisor/Director of the Environmental Office. During discussion the option of raising fees in the Environmental Office to off set the cost of restoration was raised. Jefferson County Mayor Palmieri informed the Committee that the Environmental Director could bring a request before the Committee to raise fees and that could possibly be done before the next Commission meeting. Committee Member Gaut stated that it would take an increase of approximately $53 to cover the requested dip into fund balance.

Committee Member Turner made a Motion to approve as requested and was 2nd by Tucker. The Motion Failed 3-6 with Turner, Tucker and Gaut voting Yes.

Committee Member Tucker made a failed attempt to table the Turner/Tucker motion ( he was 2nd by Kesterson) 3-6 with Gaut, Kesterson and Tucker voting Yes.

Tucker offered a Motion for the Budget Committee to request numbers from the Mayor/Environmental Director to cover the increase needed for the restoration of the salary for the Environmental Director/Supervisor. He was 2nd by Kesterson and the motion Failed 5-4 with Turner, Tucker, Kesterson, Gaut voting Yes ( Blevins absent).

Director Potts presented preliminary information regarding a County Hybrid Retirement Plan that would not impact current employees but could be a significant savings for the County with new hires. He will return with more information and a presentation from the State regarding the proposed plan in September.

Source: K. Depew, News Director