Budget Committee Approves White Pine School Additional Funding
The Jefferson County Budget Committee met on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. In order to clean up last month’s officer appointments which conflicted with the time line that is current policy, the Budget Committee opened nominations for officers and Scarlett, McGraw and Huffaker were unanimously re seated.
Jean Ringa, of the Jefferson County Humane Society, appeared before the Committee to address fiscal needs of the Humane Society. She informed the Committee that they will need in the neighborhood of $25,000 this year to cover an expected net loss. Ringa stated that many of the donations that are received are earmarked for certain needs but do not generally cover the cost of management of the Humane Society.
Several County and Department of Education Budget Amendments were approved by the Committee, including one that allocated $715,000 for school Capital Projects and $800,000 to complete the alternates on the renovation project at White Pine School. Also finding favor with the Committee was the approval of a new position with the Sanitation Department, which was moved by Committee Member Baxley and 2nd by Committee Member McGraw.
Jefferson County Finance Director Potts informed the Committee that he is awaiting adjustments to a grant for Victim Assistance which would require an in kind match from the County. Potts will seek clarification on the grant funding parameters and will likely bring the issue before the full Commission at the voting meeting.
Chairman of the Facilities Committee, Russ Turner, presented a proposed budget for the renovation of the Department of Education Building. According to the numbers provided to the Facilities Committee, the project is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $1 million dollars ($959,385 plus contingency).
Following discussion regarding the potential savings, which was estimated to be between $26,625 and $60,000 annually, the Committee rolled the item to the next meeting, in anticipation of identifying funding avenues that would be available for the project. Avenues of funding that were discussed included retainer from various school building projects totaling around $450,000, as well as hospital reserve funds and general fund balance, both of which are healthy enough to support funding a portion of the project.
