The Worth County Board of Commissioners made the 2014 Proposed Budget available for public review this past week. After looking over the line item worksheets for each department, two of the hardest hit departments appear to be public safety – the Sheriff’s Office and Worth County Fire Rescue.
According to Sheriff Jeff Hobby, while the board did approve an $8,000 contractual line item for the Sheriff’s Office to become part of the Mid South Drug Task Force, the money requested for a drug agent to participate on that task force was denied and another agent’s position was cut. And, because of limited staff, one of the officers currently assigned as a drug agent is being utilized as a criminal investigator. The sheriff also requested funding for a jail administrator, which was also denied.
Hobby requested $130,000 for the cost of four vehicles, but was only proposed $45,000 with a suggestion made by the board that the sheriff should lease four vehicles from Brannen Motor in Unadilla for a cost of $10,000 each with the option to purchase each vehicle at a cost of $1 at the end of the lease. According to Hobby, the first year may only be $45,000 but looking at it long term, each year an additional $45,000 will be added to that cost. He also requested approximately $15,000 for equipping each car, but his line item for other equipment was reduced from the $120,000 he requested to only $72,000.
The sheriff’s line item for repair and maintenance of vehicles and equipment was also cut from $25,000 to $21,250 even though the sheriff argues his current year to date expenditures as of June 19th are $22,392.
As for Worth County Fire Rescue, this year’s budget will not include money for a fire chief or for the funding to accommodate a signed contract between the county and the Town of Sumner that is currently being debated. The contract provided for the county to provide a fire truck and $26,000 for one salary.
Though $646,602.00 was requested to cover EMA salaries and wages, only $406,557 is being proposed. Captain John Graddy informed the commissioners during a workshop Thursday evening this would mean a loss of seven personnel to the department. Expenditures through Feb. 28th reflect a monthly average of $37,329.07 which at the least would mean the department would be short approximately $41,000 for salary and wages.
After several department heads voiced concerns, Chairman Cosby decided the budget should be reviewed again before making any final decisions.
