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  County Council holds first budget workshop: Administrator cuts off funding for non-profits web posted March 31, 2010 EDGEFIELD – The Edgefield County Council got their first peek at the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year budget Wednesday afternoon. County Administrator Alton Brown told the council the $6,673,070 county operations budget was balanced, although $231,155 would be moved from unrestricted reserves in order to make it balanced. The proposed budget also zeros out all non-profit organization funding for the coming year. Councilwoman Genia Blackwell asked how much was currently in the unrestricted reserves and was told by Finance Director Lynn Strom the estimated amount was $3,302,467, or roughly half of the required budget needs. County Council Chairman Monroe Kneece began the process of going over the budget department by department and elected officials. Most elected officials concurred with the proposed budget by Administrator Brown, however Sheriff Adell Dobey stood to explain that this was the first year the County Council has not purchased any patrol cars and four have already exceeded 125,000 miles. Sheriff Dobey said it is recommended that cars with over 125,000 miles, “not be used as emergency response vehicles.” Mr. Brown said the original request to keep the rotation of replacing older patrol cars with new was $135,000. The recommended budget excluded the funds. The Sheriff’s Office was reduced to replacing only two cars during the current fiscal year and the fleet is beginning to age. The normal replacement of cars has been between four and six a year. Sheriff Dobey said he understood money was tight this year and asked council to keep the rotation going if any additional funds became available. One common thread with the elected officials present was that all miscellaneous funds were stripped from their budgets. Under the budget plan, unexpected needs generally covered by such funds would be presented to the county council on a case by case basis. The budget also removed all funding for non-profit organizations and Piedmont Technical College. The hardest hits were to the Edgefield County Civic League who requested $17,500, which was $10,500 more than they were given last year, and Piedmont Tech’s $42,908 request. Another item brought to the attention of the council was recreation which Mr. Brown said he would advise that the department be moved into a General Fund item rather than a millage rate item. In all the budget review went smoothly though the council did add back in an additional $11,000 in budget items. As Chairman Kneece asked for a motion to adjourn County Councilman Rodney Ashcraft brought up the $46,000 expended to the Edgefield-Aiken Economic Development Partnership. Councilman Ashcraft questioned whether the county was benefiting from the funding and inquired if the money would be better spent to hire someone for just Edgefield County. Mr. Ashcraft suggested that the person could also be in charge of grant writing, something Sheriff’s Dobey brought up earlier in the meeting. Chairman Kneece stated the county hired a marketing employee in the past but, “it did not pay off so we fired him”. Councilman Ashcraft said it he felt the money could be better allocated. Councilwoman Blackwell questioned if the current arrangement is paying off. “With economic development, Genia, it’s not paying off anywhere right now for what it’s costing you to do it.” Mr. Brown asked if Councilman Ashcraft has spoken to Fred Humes, who is paid through the joint efforts of Edgefield and Aiken Counties, about the matter. “No I haven’t,” Ashcraft replied. Mr. Brown asked if Ashcraft would like him to set up a meeting in his office. “No, a council meeting would be fine. I’d ask the same questions and everybody gets to hear,” Ashcraft said. Councilman Ashcraft also suggested that the person hired, if it was so decided, head up the Economic Development Committee and hold the meetings at “times when people could attend” rather than at 7:30 in the mornings. He also commented though the committee was a county “board” the county does not receive monthly reports of the meetings. Chairman Kneece pointed out that Edgefield County also gets one per cent of industrial development that goes into their industrial park in a deal he worked out when the program was conceived. Councilman Ashcraft asked how much the county receives each year, which was stated as $24,000. County Auditor Bill Gilchrist said the county, under the same program, sends $4,000 to Aiken County. Ashcraft said that the numbers seemed to support his argument that the program was not paying off and is not getting results that benefit the county. With no further discussions brought forward the meeting was adjourned. The proposed budget, as amended, will be given a first reading at the April 6 county council meeting. Current budget figures do not include the county council contingency funds, which has not been established at this time. © Copyright 2010
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