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County officials continue talks on proposed budget
By Derek Hodges
County commissioners held a final work session Monday (June 5) on next year’s budget.
Its purpose was to allow county leaders to consider increase requests from several organizations, including the Community Table, REACH, the Sheriff’s Office and the school board. All but one agency received at least some extra money.
Community Table
This is the first year the Community Table requested to be a part of the county’s budget. In past years the group has relied on donations from private citizens and community organizations to meet its $32,000 annual budget.
During a budget work session on May 15, Vice Chairman Tom Shutte requested $40,000. Of that, $30,000 would be used for operations and $10,000 for an additional part-time staff member, he said.
During discussion, Commissioner Eddie Madden suggested funding the organization in full might negate its mission to unite the community in helping others. Instead, he suggested county leaders provide $5,000.
Commissioner Roberta Crawford spoke out against Madden’s proposal.
“I’m in total opposition to what Mr. Madden has proposed,” she said. “I think they serve a valuable service, but I know people in these hollers and coves that we’re using their tax dollars but they can’t get in their car to come down here and eat there.”
In a voice vote, Crawford was the only commissioner to vote against the funding.
“I’m very careful with how I spend the taxpayers’ dollars,” she said.
REACH
REACH, which provides assistance to women and children in abusive situations, requested an increase in its allocation from $15,000 to $50,000.
“Last year this board saw fit to increase our annual allotment, and we’re asking that be allowed to continue,” REACH’s Director of Community Outreach Sandy Frazier told board members last month. “REACH is asking that Jackson County commit $50,000 to services that directly benefit its citizens. REACH is not asking for a hand-out. We’re asking for a partnership.”
County Manager Ken Westmoreland said the increase in last year’s budget was given only as a one-time allotment to meet an emergency need.
During Monday’s session, several commissioners expressed support for increasing the organization’s funding.
“They do so much good, so I’m inclined to want to help out REACH,” Commissioner Joe Cowan said.
When the votes were cast the request was approved with Madden, Cowan and Commissioner Conrad Burrell voting in favor. Crawford and Commissioners’ Chairman Brian McMahan voted against the proposal.
Sheriff’s Office
After Monday’s most contentious discussion, commissioners approved the addition of three new staff members for the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office last month requested two additional deputies to patrol Tuckasegee and Glenville and another jailer. That request also included increases for supplies, uniforms and training.
During a vote, Burrell, Cowan and Madden supported funding the sheriff’s request, while Crawford and McMahan voted against it.
Burrell implied Crawford and McMahan’s refusal to grant the sheriff’s request may have stemmed from their support of former Sheriff Jim Cruzan’s campaign against Sheriff Jimmy Ashe in May’s primary.
Burrell referred several times to Ashe’s successful re-election effort, which netted him 74 percent of the vote. In that contest, Crawford and McMahan openly supported Cruzan and recorded radio ads for him.
“If an elected official comes to me with a request, I pretty much tend to see if I can help him or her,” Burrell said. “The people elected them to do a job and we should fund them to do that job. Regardless of who they are, we need to support them. When this county gives someone a 74 percent approval rating in an election, I think we need to do what we can to help them do their job.”
“I agree, the people elected Jimmy Ashe sheriff and we ought to support them anyway we can,” McMahan said. “But just because a candidate gets 74 percent doesn’t mean you give them whatever they want. Sometimes it’s a matter of what can we do?”
McMahan then addressed a question to Westmoreland.
“Do we have $200,000 we can use?” McMahan asked.
“Well, yes, we do,” Westmoreland said.
The $200,000 figure covered all the requests county leaders were considering funding. That money could come out of the county’s contingency fund, Westmoreland said.
“I guess my question would be, can we afford not to do this,” Burrell said. “I don’t think the sheriff has asked for anything astronomical.”
During a roll call vote, Burrell, Cowan and Madden supported funding the sheriff’s request, while Crawford and McMahan voted against it.
School board
During a recent meeting with school officials, commissioners heard a budget increase request from Superintendent Sue Nations. The money would be used for maintenance, Nations said.
In the one unanimous decision of the June 5 budget session, commissioners decided not to grant the school system’s request.
“My suggestion is to not increase what we have already allocated to them,” McMahan said.
Future project
In a time for commissioners to make suggestions for budget changes, McMahan presented a project he wants county leaders to support.
McMahan asked that $10,000 be allocated to help with the formation of a county honor guard that would be available to serve as pallbearers and in other roles at special events. The group is being organized by Fire Marshall Todd Dillard, he said.
McMahan also requested that money be allotted for improvements to the Willets community building.
No vote was taken on either of McMahan’s suggestions.
County leaders are expected to approve a final budget during their next session at 6 p.m. Monday, June 19.
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