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Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2009

Houston adopts 2010 budget

WARNER ROBINS – The Houston County Commission approved the fiscal 2010 budget Tuesday night by a 3-1 vote, setting it at $107.8 million, but not without some drama.

After Chairman Ned Sanders outlined the budget, which includes an 8 percent increase in the general fund portion that will require an estimated 1-mill increase in property taxes, Commissioner Jay Walker III said he could not vote for it because of the tax increase at a time when so many people are hurting financially due to the poor economy.

That led Commissioner Larry Thomson to ask him where he would find ways to trim the budget and avoid the tax increase.

Walker suggested taking money from the fund balance, but County Administrator Steve Engle pointed out that the commissioners have already lowered the reserves to the limit that their own ordinances permit.

Thomson then asked Walker if he was in favor of furloughing or laying off employees, because that would be the only other way to find significant savings.

Walker said he did not want furloughs or layoffs, but he still cast the lone vote against the budget.

Thomson, Sanders and Commissioners Tom McMichael and Gail Robinson all said they felt the budget was as lean as possible without cutting personnel.

The general fund portion of the budget, which covers normal day-to-day operations of the county, is $53,438,446.

As discussed in a public hearing two weeks ago, the budget includes no merit or longevity pay increases for county employees, and cost of living increases have been deferred until Jan. 1 to see if funds will be available then. The county’s fiscal year begins July 1.

Three county residents spoke before the budget vote, suggesting that the commissioners cut health insurance benefits for employees and require them to pay a portion of the costs. At present, the county pays all health insurance premiums for full-time employees, but not for employees’ families.

Sanders countered those arguments by saying that the commissioners had given employees the choice of no pay increases or decreased benefits, and they opted for no pay increases.

“That (freezing pay) is saving us $1,070,000 in the 2010 budget, whereas cutting the health insurance benefit would have saved only $200,000,” Sanders said. In other actions:

Ÿ Approved applying for a $500,000 state Community Development Block Grant on behalf of the city of Warner Robins for the G-RAMP project.

Ÿ Approved adding $144,855 to the cost of the Thomson Road widening project to move the water lines, with the understanding that Centerville will reimburse the county for that expense.

Ÿ Approved the low bid of $495,829 from Gregory Bridge Company to replace the bridge on Elko Road at Big Creek.

Ÿ Approved the low bid of $1,252,151 from Georgia Asphalt Inc., for phase 2 of the Old Perry Road improvements (Woodard/Solomon Road to Bellwood Avenue).

Ÿ Approved the low bid of $369,943 from Three Kings Construction for Airport Road realignment and improvements near the Perry-Houston County Airport.

Ÿ Approved several change orders on the jail expansion project that will result in a net savings of $8,092.

Ÿ Approved an agreement with the Middle Georgia Regional Development Center for it to update the Houston County Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan.

Ÿ Approved an agreement to accept $12,500 from the Department of Homeland Security for the Citizen Corps Program.

To contact writer Chuck Thompson, call 923-6199, extension 235.