'We must stop the bleeding'
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 07:40 | 
County must tighten its belt; layoffs possible
By ANGELA GUILLORY
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"We have got to stop the bleeding," is the message County Auditor Tammy Wells made to county commissioners at the budget workshop held July 19. This was the first of what could be several workshops to balance the budget before the new fiscal year starts Oct. 1.
Wells said the county needs to cut the budget by 10 percent. Department heads have already reviewed their budgets and reduced expenses by 3 percent, she explained. Commissioners and department supervisors now must find an additional 7 percent to cut from the budget.
"We’ve got to do what we can to alleviate this problem," Wells said. "I appreciate you gentlemen and what you’ve got to do and I know it is going to be a hard task to take on but it is just something that has got to be done."
Throughout the meeting commissioners discussed several areas of concern for the county.
Wells explained the county has three other revenue sources, a surplus fund with monies from indigent healthcare, tobacco and timber. Wells said if the county uses it, "You’re talking about a one-time shot and it is gone. So that’s not the answer."
Precinct 3 Commissioner Paul Cothren said the county has three surplus accounts and he wasn’t going to discuss specific dollar amounts "but the surplus account will be gone by September of this year. That leaves us with tobacco and timber at about $1.4 million. Those two funds are what we would pull from if we continue to run in the deficient those two funds would keep us running for about 18 months with zero changes. That is the way I see it. Does anybody see it any differently?" Cothren asked.
"You can’t point the finger at any one office," said Wells. "It takes every office to operate this county; every office has a function and a purpose."
"It would be irresponsible of any of us to say it has been any one thing that has caused this problem," Cothren responded. "We all have attempted to be frugal in our allocations and expenses. Mrs. (Jannis) Mitchell (county clerk) has just experienced an even greater tightening down of that we know where we are and I don’t deny that she needs everything she asked for," he said, referring to a recent emergency computer system purchase.
Judge Charles McMichael asked Mitchell if she had spent 100 percent of her funds for the current budget cycle. Wells said she did not have the actual amount. McMichael said that information would be useful not just for Mitchell, but for every department.
Wells pointed out several of the things the county does, including providing aid to other governments – fire protection, mental health, indigent health, child welfare, and making donations to other organizations. The county spends a lot on computers, copiers and maintenance agreements. She also explained a lot of expenses are out of the county’s control, including autopsy expenses, election expenses and murder trials.
Cothren suggested reducing the number of postage machines from three to one at a cost of $5,000 each annually.
McMichael pointed out it would be a little bit more inconvenient for someone to drive from the tax office to the justice center to have mail postmarked. Tax Assessor/Collector Becky Watson said it would not be logistically productive since the post office is just 20 yards away from the tax office.
There was some discussion on the viability of moving all the county offices into the justice center. Cothren suggested vacating the tax office. Maintenance supervisor Keith Fuller said the cost would be way too high to move the tax office. He also pointed out the inconvenience for citizens if the tax office was on the second floor of the justice center.
The commissioners also discussed how it would be more feasible to move the health department and county extension offices to save the county money on utilities and building maintenance.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Brett Fitts mentioned cutting back on the amount of insurance coverage the county provides employees. Both McMichael and Wells said they would hate to see that happen.
Fitts said everyone is just going to have to cut 10 percent. "It is the only thing that is fair," he added.
He said he knows no one wants to have to cut their budgets, but there is the possibility that some full-time employees may be reduced to part-time or laid off.
"There’s a bunch of offices that don’t have anywhere to cut but employees," said Fitts.
McMichael asked about the certified tax value numbers. Watson said that information should be in by Friday. "When values are up the tax rate goes down," Watson said.
Wells pointed out there are a lot of people in the county benefiting from "65 and older tax freeze."
"The new disabled veterans homestead exception benefited a lot of your taxpayers," Watson added. "It was definitely a benefit to your disabled veterans."
McMichael said the county needs to have a hiring freeze. The county needs to add security to the budget for the historic courthouse when it reopens. It also was discussed that the county spends a lot of money housing inmates in other counties because the jail is overcrowded. "We are going to have to build a jail," McMichael said.
At the end of the meeting McMichael said they had listed some problems and "maybe at the next meeting we can list some solutions."
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 28 July 2010 07:42 )
Cause under investigation Monday, 26 July 2010 06:57 |
Fire destroys Bethsaida 'Y' fellowship hall By MARTI ALEXANDER This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it The fellowship hall of Bethsaida "Y" Baptist Church, located on County Road 4223, was heavily damaged in a fire early Thursday morning. Atlanta firefighters received the call at 6:20 a.m. after the custodial crew arrived at the church to clean. According to Assistant Fire Chief Ricky Draper, the fire was inside the structure and had almost smothered itself out when firefighters arrived. The kitchen and dining area were heavily damaged by the fire and the rest of the structure received smoke damage, Draper said. Firefighters remained on the scene until 7:51 a.m. to extinguish what was left of the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Last Updated ( Tuesday, 27 July 2010 07:21 ) No timeline set Monday, 26 July 2010 06:49 |
Interviews ongoing for CCAD chief appraiser By MARTI ALEXANDER This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it The Cass Central Appraisal District board of directors is interviewing candidates to fill the position of chief appraiser after terminating Licet Parks from the position in May. According to CCAD Board President John Horton, they are interviewing applicants and may call some back for second interviews. "We are going to take our time to make sure we make the right decision," he said. In a press release issued after Parks’ dismissal, Horton said it was a difficult decision that was not taken lightly. "We are charged with oversight of the district and a majority of the board believed the district should find a chief appraiser who will take the district in a new direction."
In his press release, Horton said, "The chief appraiser is the chief administrative officer of the appraisal district, according to property tax laws. The appraisal district is responsible for setting appraised values that become the basis for property taxes. Those laws provide that the chief appraiser serves at the pleasure of the board of directors." Until a new chief appraiser is hired, Paula Hammett, a veteran staff appraiser with the CCAD, will serve as interim chief appraiser. Last Updated ( Monday, 26 July 2010 06:51 ) |
Shows up later at AMH Monday, 26 July 2010 06:51 |
Driver flees scene after accident By MARTI ALEXANDER This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Five people were treated at Atlanta Memorial Hospital following a two-vehicle accident Monday evening. Martha Allen Scott, 66, of Atlanta was traveling east on Miller Street in a 2001 Chevrolet car when her vehicle was struck by a 2009 Ford driven by 18-year-old Kenneth Dwynn Cloird of Texarkana, who was traveling north on Howe. According to Police Chief Mike Dupree, Cloird failed to yield the right of way, causing the accident. Following the accident, Cloird fled the scene on foot, but later showed up at the local hospital, according to Dupree. Scott and three passengers in Cloird’s vehicle were transported to the hospital. Cloird was issued citations for failure to yield the right of way, expired registration and no driver’s license, Dupree said. Last Updated ( Monday, 26 July 2010 06:53 ) Whole system costs much more Tuesday, 20 July 2010 14:59 |
Court spends $10K for clerk's computers By ANGELA GUILLORY This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it There was much discussion and deliberation as commissioners weighed their options before agreeing to spend more than $10,000 for computer equipment for the Cass County Clerk’s Office during a special meeting held Monday, July 19. Commissioners had tabled the matter during their regular meeting on Monday, July 12, following another lengthy discussion. During this week’s meeting commissioners reviewed three proposals with prices ranging from $10,233 to $59,206. In the end, commissioners chose option B, with an estimated cost of $10,233. The proposal provides an APC Smart 1500 uninterrupted power source (UPS/surge protection) for 12 workstations, five user workstations/computers, one laser printer with three-year warranty and installation of all by personnel from Manatron, the clerk’s office computer technicians. The county still needs to upgrade the clerk’s server, which is six years old, according to County Clerk Jannis Mitchell. In 2013 the server will have to be upgraded because Microsoft will no longer service that system. Commissioners discussed finding the money in the 2010-11 budget to purchase a new tower server and other items needed. Mitchell started the meeting by saying, "I just would like to make a statement: It has been an ordeal trying to get a computer. I would like to say we are the only ones who have had to go through as deep as we have had to go through it. I would like to see other departments that have had to go through what Becky and I have. We have got it down to three proposals. Most of you know me when I get a little upset but when the county system goes down we don’t have any revenue." Tax Assessor/Collector Becky Watson said they tried to look for the best deals for the county. "At this time the server is not failing, it is just old," Watson said. "The workstations are running like snails and that is hindering productivity. The UPS for Mitchell’s server is dead. Option B is the bare minimum that has to be done." Option A would replace the entire system at a cost to the county of $59,206. Watson said option C, which totals $31,884, includes a tower server, external tape backup, software and installation. C is a choice if the county chooses option B and Mitchell comes in to work one day and the server is dead. The price would be the cost to the county to come in and get everything up and running again. Manatron’s software is proprietary, meaning it is licensed under the exclusive legal rights of its owner. The purchaser is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, but restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering. Watson said she feels the quotes were fair. The only licensing the county will have to buy is Microsoft SQL Server, which is required by Microsoft, when officials buy a new server. The service charge with option B is in conjunction with a scheduled visit in August. Watson said she would not recommend overhauling the system. "Just know that whatever you chose this is coming," Watson said. "Within a year it is going to have to be in the budget cycle to upgrade the system. " Commissioner Precinct 3 Paul Cothren made a motion that the court "go with plan B and discuss the rest of Mitchell’s needs during the budget workshop." The motion passed. DURING THE REGULAR meeting on July 12, Mitchell told the court her computer tech said the office’s computers could crash at anytime. The computers, or workstations, are eight years old and unable to run the programs needed to handle the forms the department must process daily, she explained, adding that her office has processed more than 4,100 documents thus far this year. Mitchell told the court if the computers went down she will not be able to serve the public. She said she knows the county doesn’t have the money but she must be able to serve the county’s citizens. Last Updated ( Tuesday, 20 July 2010 15:05 ) |
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