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County Council votes for final reading on budget after two-hour debate web posted June 3, 2009 EDGEFIELD – The Edgefield County Council passed the final reading of the County Budget in the most convoluted and disorderly fashion ever seen in recent history. The $8.2 million dollar budget received a passing vote at the work session two weeks ago and was thought to have easy passage at Tuesday night’s meeting. That didn’t happen. The first motion by Councilwoman Genia Blackwell to approve the balanced budget died for lack of a second. At that time Chairman Monroe Kneece moved on with the business of the meeting. After voting on several other ordinances and items of business the discussion turned back to the budget. At that time the question of whether or not the ordinance could be brought back up for discussion led to a debate of parliamentary procedures on what to do in order to bring the budget back up for discussion. Newly hired County Attorney Michael Medlock explained that there was a motion but no second to the motion and that no discussion had taken plan because a second is required in order to discuss the point of business. After debating the rules, Councilman Rodney Ashcraft made a motion to approve the budget followed by a second from Councilwoman Blackwell. Chairman Monroe Kneece then called for a vote and Councilman Ashcraft asked for a discussion. Vice chairman Willie Bright interrupted to say that there could be no discussion, in spite of Attorney Medlock pointing out previously that was the proper procedure. Councilman Ashcraft then opened the discussion stating that Bob Ramsey had presented information about the budget he was unaware of and wished to have some explanation. At that time Chairman Kneece asked Mr. Ramsey to come forward. Ramsey challenged the county council’s ability to change the ordinance after the public hearing, why totals in the budget were different from second reading and the third, and said that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 4.6 and that the millage rate would be increased to that amount in addition to the budget. Councilman Bright replied he had no idea about the CPI being 4.6 and seemed completely dumbfounded by Mr. Ramsey’s question on the millage increase. Mr. Dorn commented that he felt the whole budget needed to be thrown out. County Administrator John Pettigrew took the floor to answer Mr. Ramsey’s questions. Pettigrew addressed the CPI matter first by explaining that the state sets the CPI as a guideline to counties to show the limit (or “cap”) a county government can raise taxes, “to control spending at the county level.” Just because the level is set by the state, the county does not have to add the CPI in as a millage rate; it is just available if the county intended to raise taxes. Mr. Pettigrew stated that in the first Finance Committee meeting Chairman Kneece and Councilwoman Blackwell stated emphatically, “they did not want a millage increase in the budget and that’s why it’s never been discussed.” There was a built-in 1 mill increase needed to fund County EMS, which operates on a separate millage rate from the county operations, which Mr. Pettigrew stated has been in the budget since inception. Mr. Pettigrew then went on to explain the county council held a public hearing to receive public comments for the very reason of listening to concerns of the public and then incorporate suggestions from the public into the budget that was presented at the final reading. Pettigrew said the council can vote on the budget as of the second reading, the amended version agree upon two weeks ago at the work session, or they can alter the budget just prior to the final vote. The on again off again vote taking went on for some time when one man rose to speak. Chairman Kneece agreed to allow the comments and the man stated that he felt the county, and possibly some in the audience attending, “could not see the forest for the trees.” He explained that EMS, Fire, and Recreation were separate entities that operate on a millage rate of their own and had nothing to do with the county operational budget. EMS costs have increased and in order to fund the current level of service with medical supplies requiring the 1 mill increase independent of the county operation budget. The speaker elaborated that the county has the ability to come back and pass an amendment to the budget at any time just as was done in January when the state cut $100,000 in funding. “You have that ability before you,” he said. “You can do that at any time. But you’re running out of time.” The budget must be passed before June 30. “And I, personally, am getting a little fed up with this county council running out of time with the budget, where to rebuild a building, I say get it done.” Councilwoman Blackwell spoke up and stated that she felt it was important to point out that in the budget of the county operations there was no millage increase. “That’s right,” Chairman Kneece said. At that point Magistrate Brenda Carpenter stood and asked what the EMS increase would cost a homeowner and was given the answer of $4 on a home of $100,000. “That’s less than you pay at McDonalds,” she said. Judge Carpenter then acknowledged a large number of county employees that attended the meeting and asked, “Please stand up.” At that time over half of those at the meeting stood and remained standing. “Now they came here for a reason,” Judge Carpenter said, “we had false hope coming in here about insurance.” As the county workers stood Judge Carpenter continued to defend them stating that she would much rather pay $10 a year, far more than the $4 cost, to pay for employee insurance to be provided than see the employees lose $1,200 a year out of their pay. “The deputies would have been here tonight,” she said, “but, if you’ve read the news you’d know they are out there trying to prevent more of these burglaries or they would be here too.” Judge Carpenter then used Councilman Norman Dorn’s words from a previous meeting in which he stated, “If you want the services you have to pay for them, I have it written down right here,” she said. She also elaborated on a point made by Mr. Ramsey, who was opposed to the budget because raising even one mill of taxes was the wrong thing to do because people are hurting in this economy, and said, “if you take away this insurance you’re going to hurt all of these county employees, and they work hard and most of them have been here a long time.” After more discussion Chairman Kneece gaveled down the discussion and asked for a motion. “Again, I would like to make a motion to approve,” Councilwoman Blackwell said, “the budget as amended”, which was followed by a second by Councilman Ashcraft. Chairman Kneece called for the vote which passed on a 3-2 vote with councilmen Dorn and Bright voting against the budget. As passed, the budget will provide for the promised benefits to county employees and still remain balanced through a series of cuts and additional funding with offset. The two-hour meeting, with half of it dedicated to the budget debate, finally ended. County employees were jubilant and many sought out Judge Carpenter to thank her for her strong stand for the county employees and to thank council members who supported the budget amendment offered by Councilwoman Blackwell. County Administrator John Pettigrew was also praised for his clarifications offered during the debate to expedite a resolution to the budget impasse at the meeting. The county council then went into an executive session for an hour to discuss a personnel matter and exited to have Chairman Kneece state that the council was holding Mr. Pettigrew to his performance review and that everything was “OK”, Chairman Kneece stated. The meeting, which began at 6 pm, was adjourned around 9:40 pm. © Copyright 2009
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