Budget Committee Weighs Department Requests

The Jefferson County Budget Committee met following a lengthy County Commission meeting on Monday, March 13, 2013. Director of Jefferson County Finance Helton presented a portion of the County Departmental Budgets to the Committee. He stated that the County has lost around $200,000 in property evaluation, however it appears that expenditure may come in slightly under projections. Budget Committee Chairman Griffith reminded the Committee that departmental numbers include a proposed 2% employee raise. In regard to last meeting’s unfinished business, the Committee approved the Capitol Projects budget, as amended, in the amount of $1,132,400. In an effort to address as many departments as remaining time would allow, the Committee reviewed budget requests that were generally stagnant, or nearly stagnant. from the current fiscal year. Chairman Griffith cautioned Department Heads that approvals are preliminary and final approval is dependent on the entire budget picture.  Preliminary approval was given to the following budget requests-Highway Department, County Commission, Register of Deeds, Other General Administration, Preservation of Records, Property Assessor’s Office, County Trustee, County Clerk, Other Finance, Drug Court, Other Administration of Justice, Victims Assistance Programs, Wheel Tax Officer, Administration of Sexual Offender Registry, Homeland Security Grant Program, Local Health Department, Aid to Dependent Children and Senior Citizens Assistance. Those departments not addressed will be rolled to the next budget meeting on May 21, 2013.