Local Radar

Paid for by the Joan Herlong for Probate Judge Committee

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Paid for by the Candidate

County Budget process grows

web posted Apri 20, 2006

COUNTY – As EdgefieldDaily.com reported on Wednesday, the Edgefield County Council held a work session on the proposed Fiscal Year 2006-2007 on Tuesday night. In addition to the compromise worked out so far for at least two additional deputies for the Sheriff’s Office, several other items came up during the meeting. Following is highlights of the consensus at the meeting.

Administrator Wayne Adams reported on a question Councilman Joel Hudson had about the impact and number of housing starts that were expected in the county. Mr. Adams stated his review estimates 20 million dollars in housing growth for the year. However, he pointed out that the industrial, commercial tax base continues to shrink, and the county basically has a “flat tax base”, or no growth. “The revenue increase you see in this budget comes largely from millage increases. That means more intensively taxing what we have opposed to the tax base growing to provide more revenue,” Mr. Adams said.

Unmentioned were the costs associated with housing and population growth such as the need for additional EMS, Fire, and Police protection. Other costs the county incurs comes in the way of infrastructure such as water and sewer lines and road maintenance. A growing residential base and a declining industrial and commercial base is a net loss for the county. Without new industries coming into the county soon, the effects of the residential growth will become a heavy burden on the taxpayers.

Councilman Everett Kitchens praised the county archivist and said he supported the suggested upgrade in job reclassification to allow a $5,443.45 raise. Presently the archivist is set in a job description listed as a grade 10 with a salary range of $18,799 to $26,319. Mr. Adams stated based on experience the archivist should be making $24,255, well within the present range. The present salary was stated as $19,551. However, the requested reclassification places the potential for increases as high as $32,323. The need for reclassification to produce the near 30% increase in salary is unwarranted unless future increases beyond the present classification are in the process.

A report on the Bettis Park funds from 2005-2006 showed $201,000 of the original $350,000 allotted for improvements have been dispersed. Mr. Adams said another $140,000 is outstanding for planned projects, $40,000 of which are related to irrigation. The $350,000 designated to Bettis Park is a holdover from last year and is not included in the near half million dollar proposed recreation budget for the present budget. When implemented, the recreation budget was said to cost, at most, $85,000 just two years ago. 

The issue of a 40 hour work week for county employees also became a focal point. Presently county employees work 35 hours a week. A move to the 40 hour work week for 37 of the 39 county employees (2 are part time and not affected by the move) would cost $96,200. Councilman Kitchens suggested a special work session to discuss the matter alone rather than during a regular session. That meeting was set for June 14 at 6:00 at the County Council Chambers.

In what appeared as a planned conversation Councilman Kitchens and Mr. Adams discussed an employee of the Probate Court. Councilman Kitchens stated that he understood that an employee of the Probate Court was hired part-time to help with the archives. Later, after Administrator Adams took over control of the archives, the employee was hired full time by the Probate Court. Mr. Kitchens and Mr. Adams seemed to agree that the employee of an elected official should have to fulfill duties in the archives.

The County Council and most certainly Administrator Adams have no authority over the employees of elected officials, including the Probate Court. Political observers have said suggesting such showed an inherent understanding of the powers of the county council. A point that Councilman Hudson and Chairman Kneece have made repeatedly.
 

 

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