September 10, 2007

Tentative Budget Hearing

Bonifay, Florida

The Holmes County Board of Commissioners held the Tentative Budget Hearing on the above date with the following members present: Commissioner Kenneth Williams, Commissioner Monty Merchant, Commissioner Jim King, Commissioner Phillip Music, and Commissioner Raymon Thomas, Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Greg Wood, County Administrator, was present.

Alice Vickers, Deputy Clerk, was present and kept the minutes.

Commissioner Music opened the meeting with prayer and led the pledge.

Pursuant to Public Notice, the Board held a public hearing to discuss the millage rate and the proposed budget for 2007-08. Chairman Thomas advised the public that the rolled-back rate is 9.2594 and that the percentage increase in the proposed millage over the rolled-back rate is 2.6%. He also stated that the millage was set at 9.5 mills in order to balance the General and Transportation Trust Funds. He reminded the Board that what the Board did regarding the millage rate would determine the County’s revenue capacity for the next five years. Commissioner King offered a motion to set the tentative millage at 9.5 with Commissioner Williams offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

The Board discussed the Fire Inspection salary, procedures, and lack of revenue. Commissioner Williams asked Mr. Baker, Fire Inspector, about inspections that were performed in Washington County. Mr. Baker responded that he did those on his own time. Administrator Wood advised that a list of all structures that required annual inspections could be compiled and the entire process could be restructured for more accountability and efficiency. Chairman Thomas stated that presently there was no accountability for this position and suggested that the Board could contract this service. He also advised that the tentative budget could be approved and that the salary could be decreased at a later date if the Board wished. The Board agreed to give Mr. Baker sixty days to restructure the process and to bring back a report to the Board before taking action to cut the salary. Commissioner Merchant also suggested that the Board should also look at the method of calculating overtime for the combined position of Fire Inspector and Ambulance Director.

Commissioner King offered a motion to adopt the tentative budget for 2007-08. Commissioner Music offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Thomas announced that the Final Budget Hearing would be held on Monday, September 24, 2007, at 5:01 p.m.

Commissioner Music offered a motion to adjourn with Commissioner Williams offering a second. The motion passed unanimously.

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Clerk Chairman