With 2019 quickly winding down, the Fulton County Quorum Court is set to meet in its second special meeting this month in an effort to adopt a budget for the upcoming year.
Areawide Media is reporting the quorum court will meet Friday evening at 6 in a special called session at the Fulton County Courthouse.
Efforts to adopt a budget began at the quorum court’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting Dec. 10.
Judge Jim Kendrick presented two budgets for members of the court to review.
Judge Kendrick said when the budgets were discussed in November, there were three or four suggested changes.
One was a decrease in the expected insurance increase. Originally, the county was expecting a 7.5% increase. Kendrick reported they were able to reduced the increase to 6%. Other changes were salaries for the justices of the peace remaining at current rates, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) budget and the Boggy Bottom Road account.
One budget included all changes discussed by Kendrick, along with no changes to the Boggy Bottom Road account. The other was identical with the exception of changes to the Boggy Bottom Road account.
As JPs were reviewing the budget, some questioned the number of labor hours needed for OEM. JP Johnny Moody noted it appeared more than 40 hours were budgeted, indicating his belief there had been a 32-hour person and an eight-hour person for that position.
Judge Kendrick noted there are a number of items needing attention, including emergency management documents not completed and tasks needing to be addressed as required by the state.
With Kendrick wanting to give OEM Director Mike Harlow an opportunity to explain his requests, a special meeting was called for Dec. 17.
At the first special meeting, Judge Kendrick presented a third budget proposal for consideration, referred to as option C, with this one eliminating the Boggy Bottom Road project and without a 24-hour deputy OEM position.
Kendrick stated he hasn’t spoken to a judge who doesn’t have a full-time OEM and deputy. Harlow, who was present at the special called meeting, said every county has a deputy OEM.
When the vote was taken for option C, JPs Ray Matthew and Bob Wood voted against the measure, Marge Rogers was absent, leaving Johnny Moody, Seth Martin, Jack Haney, Lynn Maguffee, Burton Yarnell and Cris Newberry in favor.
Confusion filled the courtroom as Judge Kendrick continued, “Before we vote on that ordinance for option C, we are going to let Mike (Harlow) have the floor.”
A motion to adjourn followed.
Friday evening’s meeting has been set due to the ordinance to adopt the budget not having been read.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI