September 10, 2007

Budget Workshop

Bonifay, Florida

 

            The Holmes County Board of Commissioners met in Special Session 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.

            Chairman Thomas led the pledge and opened the meeting with prayer.

 

            The Board discussed the proposed 2007-08 budget and agreed to budget $250,000 more than last year for the Sheriff.  Chairman Thomas stated that the Sheriff could distribute this amount to the categories he wished and that this would also include any raise given and the health insurance increase.

 

            The Board made the following additional changes to the proposed budget:

 

                        Tax Collector              Salary & Benefits                    -   4,171

                                                            Postage                                    +       50

                        Property Appraiser     Personal Services                   +     137

                        Clerk to Board            Personal Services                   +33,899

                                                            Capital Outlay                         - 30,000

                                                            Contingencies                          -   3,899

 

            The Board discussed the salary for the Fire Inspector.  Commissioners Williams stated that he felt the fire inspection process has some major flaws with very little revenue being returned to the County.  He also stated that the County had funded the certification of Mr. Baker as a fire inspector and that he was performing inspections outside of the County and not turning in the revenue.  Administrator Wood advised that several visits to the premises were occurring for the $50 fee and that the Board needed to address this issue.  Discussion also included the following:

 

  1. Improving communications between the Building Department and the Fire Inspector
  2. Requiring detailed documentation for inspections performed
  3. Requiring accountability by Inspector for time spent performing inspections
  4. Reassessing the current fee of $50
  5. Lowering the salary of the Inspector if revenue is not increased

 

The Board agreed to ask Mr. Baker, Fire Inspector, to be present at the Budget Hearing scheduled for 5:00 today for further discussion.

 

            Commissioner Merchant also discussed that Mr. Baker’s present overtime rate was based on the combined rate of both his Fire Inspector and Ambulance Director salaries.  Discussion also included that only one time sheet is submitted by Mr. Baker with no identification of which hours were for Fire Inspection.  Commissioner Merchant also suggested that someone else could be hired to prevent the large amount of overtime that Mr. Baker is currently working.

 

            Mr. John Little spoke regarding the new property tax legislation.

 

            The Board agreed to move the remaining $131,868 from General Fund to Transportation Trust – Road Materials & Supplies.  The proposed Budget was balanced.

 

            Mr. Mike Alvis, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, spoke with the Board about the Chamber’s future plans and requested additional funding.

 

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

 

 

 

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Clerk                                                                           Chairman