Fabrizio Gowdy
Gadsden County News Service
County commissioners were divided Monday as they voted to approve budget amendments and increase pay for armed security personnel at county buildings.
Commissioners voted 3-2 to transfer $313,158.62 from the county’s fund balance to court services ($121,570.17) and library services ($191,588.45). According to Finance Director Rose Raynak, the adjustments were needed because those departments went over budget after bringing in lower than expected revenue.
Board Chair Eric Hinson and Commissioner Shawn Wood voted against the budget amendments, expressing their concern
“I don’t feel comfortable voting for this until you tell me how we’re going to fix it next year,” said Wood. “If we don’t have a plan to curb this, then we’re going to be right back where we were.”
Wood made a motion to move the agenda item to the next meeting to give the board more time to properly address it, but the motion was not seconded. Commissioner Ronterious Green echoed Wood’s concern, although he ultimately voted in favor of the budget amendments.
“We keep moving money almost every meeting … this is happening too much, too often,” said Green.
The board was also divided on increasing pay for I.F.W. Security personnel, who are currently paid $15 hourly to provide armed security at the county’s public libraries, the Butler Building, and the Tax Collector’s Office. Commissioners were asked to consider increasing pay to $17 hourly, but Hinson argued that was too low, advocating for $23 hourly instead.
“We can’t play around with peoples’ lives,” said Hinson. “If we want to get a quality person, we got to increase the salary a little bit.”
Commissioner Brenda Holt suggested she’d support as high as $25 an hour, but Green made a motion to increase pay to $20 an hour, which he presented as a reasonable compromise. Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the increase at $20 an hour, with Wood representing the lone “no” vote.
“I think we have to get out of the habit of giving people more money than they ask for,” said Wood.
In Other Business
- The board unanimously authorized Hammond Design Group to begin offering its professional architectural services for the new Boys and Girls Club facility at the Wards Lot site, which commissioners greenlit on Oct. 30.
- Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt an updated county vehicle take-home policy for county employees, an issue that has been a priority for Interim County Administrator Reginald James. The new policy, which had not been updated since 2009, will reduce unnecessary usage of county vehicles and save taxpayers money on maintenance and repairs.
- The board unanimously approved road work on Cane Creek Bridge, Barineau Road, and Fairbanks Road. Funding had already been allocated by the FDOT, meaning there is no fiscal impact to the county.
The next meeting of the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners will take place Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.
