Limestone County commissioners propose 0.56 tax rate, approve budget transfers to cover jail food costs

Limestone County commissioners on an unspecified date proposed a 0.56 tax rate for the coming year and approved several budget amendments, including a ledger transfer of roughly $31,000 to cover increased jail food costs.

The proposal to set the tax rate at 0.56 was made during the meeting and carried after a motion and a second. "I proposed that we adopt the rate of 0.56," said Commissioner 1. Commissioners scheduled the required public hearing and additional actions at the regular meeting on Sept. 9 (time and notice as discussed). Staff said the county’s overall tax rate will be lower than the prior year even after the proposal.

The meeting also approved a ledger transfer to cover a shortfall in the jail food line after county staff reported higher food costs and special-diet purchases for inmates. A county staff member said the jail’s food costs rose about 4.7–4.8% under a year-to-year contract and that the county had to purchase special meals outside the contract; the county also is housing more inmates for other jurisdictions. Staff reported the county originally projected about $400,000 in inmate-housing revenue but now expects roughly $490,000; however, food costs were about $30,000 short of the line item. Commissioners moved and seconded a ledger transfer from the general fund contingency to cover the shortfall; the transfer will be prepared as a ledger transfer by staff.

Commissioners also discussed amending retiree coverage and agreed to consider a $50 increase to retiree coverage in the budget. "Do y'all want to, change the amount of coverage, to increase $50? I believe we already have $3.50 in the budget in the proposed budget," Commissioner 1 asked during the discussion. The commission indicated it would amend the budget accordingly and a motion and second were recorded.

A separate budget amendment affecting law enforcement personnel was raised: commissioners discussed amending the budget to reflect an increase related to the sheriff’s department. Commissioner 1 said the law enforcement budget would be amended to a figure of $107,000 and staff said they would update both budgets accordingly.

The commission also approved an item identified as a planning resolution (referred to in the meeting as item 17) that included an allocation described in the discussion as $90,000 for a planning program. "This is the planning that we give each year to see the systems program. We've been given 90,000," Commissioner 1 said; a motion and second were recorded and the item passed.

Commissioners discussed increasing one human-resources position’s pay by $2,000 for the year and debated hours for that position (references in the meeting ranged between 30 and 35 hours per week). One commissioner said the increase would be made "in both budgets" and staff said they would implement the change.

The county extension office and its contract for next year also drew sustained discussion. Commissioners said the contract coming due next year should include specific dollar amounts and deliverables rather than general commitments. Commissioner 1 said the commission would "leave that travel alone this year" but requested exact dollar figures be included in next year’s contract. Dave, identified in the meeting as an extension representative, thanked commissioners for support and clarified that some professional conferences attended by extension agents are organized by professional associations and not funded by the extension agency.

Nominations for a district post were taken; commissioners agreed to renominate Carl Addicks and a candidate identified only as Luke. Commissioners said an official vote on those nominations would occur at a later time.

Several items discussed at the meeting will return for formal adoption or public hearings, and staff were directed to prepare ledger-transfer paperwork and budget updates reflecting the changes approved at the meeting.