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Civil service budget shows surprise $16,500 training line; advertisement spending rises
Summary
Commission staff reported an unexpected $16,500 training allocation this fiscal year and detailed advertising and postage costs tied to recruitment advertising across print and online channels.
At its July 16 meeting the Berkeley County Deputy Sheriff's Civil Service Commission received a budget update that included an unexplained $16,500 training-and-education allocation and higher planned spending for advertising and postage tied to recruitment activity.
Staff told commissioners the commission began the year with $15,750 and had $10,986.91 remaining at the prior fiscal-year end; current available funds were reported as $38,668.41 for the new fiscal year. Staff said $16,500 in training-and-education funds had been posted to the civil service budget after the commission had been told earlier in the year it would not receive that funding.
Line-item changes noted: postage increased from $750 to $1,500 this fiscal year; staff encumbered $31.59 to mail promotional test materials back to Charleston; advertisement and publication authority rose from $5,000 to $10,700 and showed a current obligation rate of zero pending outstanding invoices. Staff reported an outstanding invoice of $710.96 from LocalIQ for newspaper ads and another anticipated invoice of about $210 for online job-board announcements (Indeed and others).
Staff provided a schedule of ad runs in three regional newspapers (Chambersburg, Waynesboro and the Hagerstown Herald-Mail) and a snapshot of one ad design. Staff praised the design work and the county graphic artist, Matt Umstead, for a social-media ad; commissioners discussed the possibility of using short video “reels” for wider reach.
Discussion vs. decision: the report was informational; the commission did not change budget policy at the meeting. Staff clarified that the $16,500 training amount appeared on the county financial report and the county clerk could not immediately explain the source.
Background: staff said the county maintains a civil service web page with study guides and the commission continues to encumber small amounts related to testing and advertising as part of active recruitment efforts.
