Budget Blues: Department heads discuss budgets
Staff reporter
The Marion County Attorney and the Marion County Sheriff met with the Marion County Commission during Monday's regular session to discuss budget issues.
Susan Robson, county attorney, said she realizes her department is over budget but can't totally remedy the situation.
"There are things that I cannot control," said Robson. "I had $10,000 worth of autopsies this year." This is an expense that is impossible to predict, Robson added.
Leroy Wetta, county commissioner, asked Robson about special prosecutors.
"I've noticed that this happened fairly regularly," said Wetta.
Robson responded by saying that she was on medical leave in January which required some of the expense for an additional prosecutor. The other cases were due to conflicts of interest.
Wetta asked if some cases should not be tried because of the cost factor. Robson responded that it is not her job to "decide if it's worth prosecuting or worrying about money being spent."
"I don't want you to not do your job," said Howard Collett, chairman of the county commission. "(Right now) We've got to 'rob' another fund to cover expenses."
Collett recalled the creation of the risk management fund which was to be used for expenses associated with the closing of the county's landfill.
"Now we have to take money from it to cover the overages."
The attorney's office has currently spent 97 percent of its allotted budget.
"I will control the things that I can control," said Robson.
Robson requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel issues.
The meeting reconvened after the 10-minute session with no decisions being made.
Becker was then given an opportunity to discuss his budget with the commission. Accompanying Becker were two sheriff's office employees, Randy Brazil and Jeff Soyez.
The sheriff's department is currently at 96 percent of the total revised budget. Becker presented budget information pertaining to the original budget and the revised budget. He also provided information pertaining to the vehicles in the sheriff's department.
Becker explained that his jail expenses cannot be totally anticipated.
"There are some inmates with medical needs that cost $200 to $500 a month," said Becker. Some of these expenses will be refunded to the county over a period of months.
Bob Hein, county commissioner, agreed that the county needs to take care of the inmates.
There are currently eight inmates in the jail.
Wetta asked Becker how the county was going to offset this deficit so it won't carry over to next year. Becker responded by requesting a 10-minute executive session to discuss identifiable personnel issue. The commission approved the request and recessed for the session.
The meeting reconvened after five minutes with the announcement that there was or will be a reduction of $36,000 in the sheriff's budget.
Wetta asked the question again of how the county was going to get past the shortfall for 2003 so it won't carry over into 2004. With the $36,000 reduction, there is still a shortage of $26,839.
Becker responded there have been some changes made in his department.
"Meals have been reduced by $2 per meal," said Becker.
Hein asked if there was a contract for the meal service. Becker responded that there was not but he anticipated the meals remaining the same price of $3.25 per meal.
Wetta asked Becker about the uniform expenses.
Becker responded that when personnel change, additional uniforms may have to be purchased. Becker added there is a supply of uniforms he's been using as his clothing size has changed. He doesn't anticipate purchasing additional uniforms.
Becker is also looking at installing a washer and dryer in the jail instead of having the uniforms professionally cleaned. His concern is an adequate place for the equipment where prisoners can do the work and still be monitored.
The county is paying $200 to $300 a month for the cleaning of the uniforms.
Wetta asked if the intake area would be suitable for the washing and drying equipment and for monitoring. Becker said that it may be and it would just be a matter of installing a cable for the video monitoring.
Other expenses that Becker does not control lab fees for those charged with alcohol and drug-related crimes.
"The county should be reimbursed eventually," said Becker. He also added that it may take a year or more.
Becker's department has also had the expense of repairing the intoxolizer.
Collett commented that looking at the original budget, the sheriff's department was still over $32,000.
"What caused you to be over $32,000," asked Collett.
Becker responded that personnel was part of it.
"We can reduce that," said Becker. "Uniforms was a part of that. Overtime (was another reason) when one officer was in the academy."
Wetta said he noticed that overtime was a constant expense. But lately it had been reduced.
Becker told the commission his officers were taking measures to reduce the overtime expense. Officers are watching their hours and taking time off instead of being paid overtime.
"Two people are on the beat at a time," said Becker. "Three are on (duty) Fridays and Saturdays. Search warrants often require the entire staff. I try to give officers a day off instead of paying overtime."
"If we don't replace a car next year, that's another $13,000," said Becker.
Collett wasn't sure if that was the best solution considering the mileage of the vehicles.
Currently, the sheriff's department has nine vehicles — three pickup trucks, one utility vehicle, and five cars. The vehicles range in age from a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria to a 2002 Ford Explorer.
Mileage ranges from 47,000 on the Explorer to 165,000 on the 1997 Crown Victoria. There are four other vehicles with over 100,000 miles and one with over 90,000.
"If we continue with the same level of services and personnel, we're going to be over next year," said Collett.
The sheriff's department budget in 2002 was $471,000. The 2003 revised budget is 423,000, and the approved budget for 2004 is $403,000.
