Amendments Coming to County’s 2013 Budget?

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Is Gilmer County headed for a series of budget amendments in 2013? This was the question during the most recent budget hearing held last week.During the hearing, the Gilmer County Board of Commissioners authorized the use of the 2012 budget until the 2013 budget is adopted. Commission Chair J.C. Sanford said some reasons for the authorization were minor problems and in part due to advertising requirements.

With only days remaining in 2012, taxpayers are concerned the county has yet to complete a budget for next year.

Citizens are also concerned about possible amendments to the county’s anticipated 2013 budget.

Citizen Greg Altman asked Sanford if the county’s 2013 budget as advertised was indeed the final budget.

“We are still working diligently on our 2013 budget and there will be some amendments to the budget, but they will come after the first of the year,”

Sanford told Altman, adding,

“There is nothing more I would like than to have a complete budget.”

FYN asked Sanford if the 2013 proposed budget accounts for improvements to the Gilmer County Airport, the return of CFO Faye Harvey, and moving Finance Director Sandy Holden from part-time to full-time. Sanford said that these items are accounted for in the proposed budget, but admitted certain departments will have to be amended after the New Year.

Sanford said he could not discuss one of the department amendments because of legalities. However, he did say a separate amendment could involve funding improvements to the county’s community service program.

In November, the board created a new community service supervisor position. The new supervisor position pays a rate of $14 an hour. The position, though, may also include other costs, such as gas and benefits. The move raised questions of nepotism, when the position was given to Larry Buttram, husband of County Clerk Diana Buttram.

Also, Citizen Joene DePlancke wanted to know why the county did not previously budget for the community service position.

“You’re not going to fire any people in the road department, so you’re just going to be able to do more things. But this budget doesn’t reflect doing what you’re doing at the expense of the departments,”

DePlancke said, underscoring that the position will cause an increase not reflected in the budget. According to the 2013 Proposed Budget, the county allots $11,215 for community service. At $14 an hour for a 40 hour work week, though, the salary for the new supervisor position comes to $29,120 before taxes. The budgeted amount only accounts for half of the supervisor’s salary.

Sanford said the plan to budget the new program is to accumulate money from other departments, and to develop a history of the community service program to allow the county to budget the department next year. This will create an expenditure amount for comparison to use for the following budget.

FYN asked incoming Post 1 Commissioner Randy Bell for a response to the budget. Bell said several items were still unclear, but said he would speak with Sanford about these items for clarification.

The budget was developed by Sanford, Post 2 Commissioner Danny Hall and Post 1 Commissioner Will Beattie. As such, come the New Year Incoming Commissioner Bell will vote on a budget he did not help create.

Watch Video of Budget Hearing Below.

2012 Dec Gilmer BOC Budget Meeting from Fetch on Vimeo.

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