Following a brief interruption for a Special Called meeting our commissioners resumed their collective public review of the proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. On Tuesday June 18th at 3pm, the commissioners will be getting down to the hard part of the budget review, compromising.
Chairman Hester opened last night’s work session asking for discussion on the three budget add-ons. These are three requests for taxpayers’ money not included in the initial proposed budget. First of the budget add ones, was a commissioner’s request to increase their pay. Commissioner Brummitt suggested a performance based compensation plan for the commissioners. Commissioner Garrison stated he could not justify a pay increase for the commissioners. Adding that funds are stretched thin enough beside people are dissatisfied with our efforts thus far. A palpable relief swept through all except the one commissioners following Commissioner Garrison’s statement. No pay increase for the commissioners in this year’s budget.
Next up was the school administration’s request for $211,000 in security measures: armed guards at two schools, security cameras, alarms, and electronic door locks at all the schools. In an earlier work session the commissioners challenged Mr. Asycue to learn about these three options. For example if there is money for only one which one. And how firm (real) is the dollar amounts. Mr. Asycue reported that school officials wanted all three. School officials said instead of the lump sum of $211,000 they would accept one quarter this year and the other three quarters in each of the next three years. The $211,000 is a firm number. The commissioners agreed to pay the schools one quarter this year and for the next three years. Making the county the school’s bank something Chairman Hester opposed on another budget item. No one asked how the schools intended to pay the full $211,000 out of their treasury when getting only a quarter of the requested amount this year.
These work sessions you have displayed congeniality, rancor, and open hostility among the commissioners with the occasional flashes of agreement. At last Tuesday evening’s work session a contingent of supporters and leadership of the Warren County Free Health Clinic pitched their need for $50,000 of Vance County taxpayers’ money. As I understood their request prior to Duke Lifepoint’s incursion into our community the non-profit Maria Parham Hospital provided all or a majority of Warren County Free Health Clinic’s operating funds. Another benefit to the whole community of Duke Lifepoint is the elimination of such funding. This is a solid example of the distinction between for profit and non-profit hospitals and medical care. Chairman Hester stated that last week he asked the good folks of the free clinic to tell how many of this year’s patients are from Vance County. That information had not been provided as of the last night’s work session. Commissioner Brummitt voiced concern that funding something like the free clinic would open another drain on the taxpayers’ resources without a way to stop it once started. Commissioner Taylor pointed out that the administrator of the free clinic lives in Vance County. Adding that if a Vance County resident were to ask the administrator where they should seek free or very low cost health care the answer would most likely be the free clinic. After much emotional and sometimes very bitter discussion a majority of the commissioners (four by my count) agreed to fund the Warren County free clinic with $15,000 instead of their requested $50,000 so long as $5,000 could be pulled from one of the other non-profits seeking taxpayers’ money. And the free clinic answers Chairman Hester’s question.
This afternoon starting at 3pm some scared oxen will be sacrificed on a three legged alter. The three legs are reason, emotion, and politics. How many if any of the new proposed positions are cut? Which non-profit looses $5,000? What is cut to reduce the proposed budget by $250,000?
From the Peanut Gallery, I can report that six of the seven commissioners have been active participants throughout the public work sessions; the seventh will let me say they have been in attendance. Commissioner Taylor provided his colleagues an insight into the budget that I think is worth sharing. According to his work only $1,528.942 (3.6%) of the entire $42,556,413 in the proposed budget is non-required funding. In his handout he says, “… within most required departments [and] programs there is some limited flexibility … in staffing levels …”
See you at the coliseum at 3 pm today.
Enough of our county’s commissioners have agreed to accept the proposed county budget with some minor modifications. Based on a nose count three commissioners fell in line with the chairman while three held fast to their dissension of various parts of the proposed budget. One add-on budget item, the Warren County free health clinic, almost derailed the entire budget. The compromise agreed to Monday night fell away in the bright light of the day. In the end four commissioners agreed to fund the Warren County free health clinic $10,000 plus $5,000 from other worthwhile causes instead of their requested $50,000.
The end result of some 16 hours sans public of public meetings the majority of the commissioners verbally agreed to approve spending $42,556,413 tax dollars starting July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014. The budget accomplished the Chairman’s chief objective no property tax increase. The meeting ended on an alarming message to the future Board. Property evaluations start in 2014. Overall property values conceivably could drop by as much as 25% – 30% according to one commissioner. That loss will need to be made up through higher property taxes. As with all political decisions why worry about the future when you can crow about today.
Board approval of the proposed budget is scheduled for June 25, 2013.
Hate I missed the lil’ “disagreement” between e.wright and d.brummitt. From what I have witnessed and listening to both men articulate different points of view I can imagine it was like having a “disagreement” with a raindrop for falling too fast from the sky? My grandma always said you can’t argue with someone who doesn’t know what the discussion is even about or what is supposed to be about!!!! Did it become heated and was the infamous RACE CARD become part of the discussion b/c I have heard that most visitors to the Warren Co. Free Clinic are minorities. Hate I couldn’t get to the meeting but sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate!!! I still say it’s way past time for some of the elected officials to go enjoy life elsewhere and not continue to destroy what is left of Vance County.
By the way Michael, did e.wright ever apologize for calling you up to the “horseshoe” that night when he thought you were the one who was making it publicly known that he was a tax deadbeat? I saw your face when he called you up and when you told him your name he didn’t seem to do anything but lean back in his chair and cross his arms and exhale. Didn’t see anymore dialogue after you told him your name. That was worth the price of admission!!!!
or was it the other way around? I can’t seem to remember if he called another Michael up and you were the one who was making it public that he was a tax deadbeat? Anyways……I’m glad I can still see his expressions b/c that was some funny #@#@!!!!!
The time is coming for much of the old guard to step aside and let some new blood have a chance at turning this thing around. Both with the County and the City of Henderson. Public schools included. The sun is setting on the leadership roles of those in there now. Wonder if the State has it’s eye on Vance County???
Folks have no use for people who do not uphold their end of the bargain no matter what the reason. There are more than capable citizens waiting their turn. We are here. We see what is going on. We are not pleased. Rome was not built in a day and our problems run so deep they cannot all be fixed quickly….but they can be fixed and will be fixed.
There are too many of those not willing to rock the boat and just hold on a bit longer. That attitude is part of what got us so far down in the first place. If you cannot get your agenda items done in 2-3 terms give some one else a try and get back in line.
The hands on the clock are getting close to midnight.