County eyes budget issues...again
By SHARON KERR Staff Writer

Jasper County Commissioners Court will begin annual budget workshops tomorrow and Friday, July 19 and 20, at 9 a.m. These first hearings are reserved for individual department heads to address the court about their written 2008 budget requests, according to County Judge Mark Allen.

When budget requests were sent to department heads in May, County Auditor Dru Miller provided worksheets comparing 2006 to 2007 budgets, and a breakdown of year-to-date expenditures for 2007.

Allen advised department heads in a letter, "Please be conservative with your budget planning and make only reasonable necessary requests based on the continued safe operation of your individual department and its ability to maintain its level of service."

Last year, retired County Judge Joe Folk told the same group that since the county was still recovering from expenses incurred during Hurricane Rita, and reimbursement aid was still uncertain, they should not request any increases.

All departments adhered to the request except six Justices of the Peace and five of six constables, who filed a grievance when the court did not grant their budget requests. The grievance committee awarded an increase to the JPs for travel allowance but not salary, and an increase in constables' salary but no increase in travel.

At the July 13 commissioners' court meeting, Kit Stephenson, constable of Precinct #1, reported that he had exhausted his entire travel allowance, and received an additional $3,600 to finish out the year.

This year, Allen says he expects there will be new budget requests. Even before Hurricane Rita, Allen said the county was "in a holding pattern" until the MeadWestvaco lawsuit over property taxes was settled.

"We're probably overdue," Allen said, "but we still need to be conservative with the taxpayers' money."

Results of the budget workshops, which will continue throughout August, will be used to determine the property tax rate needed to meet the 2008 budget.

County Clerk Debbie Newman said she is one of the first on the agenda, and will request an increase since her department has taken on additional responsibilities with elections and land.

Jasper County Sheriff Ronnie McBride will request three additional deputies to improve response time.

Allen said he is open to hearing from the Jasper Lakes Area Humane Society again on the issue of an animal shelter for the county, but that the request needs to come through the Sheriff's office as they are responsible for animal control.

The county must come up with an animal plan to be filed with the Emergency Management Coordinator for Jasper County.