Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Washington County sets June 1 public hearing on FY2020-21 budget after manager cites 24% fund-balance estimate
Summary
County Manager Curtis Potter presented the recommended FY2020-21 budget May 18 and said the county's fund balance should be about 24%; commissioners raised questions about salary increases, three leased sheriff vehicles and a $400,000 school request. A June 1 public hearing was set by unanimous vote.
Washington County Manager and County Attorney Curtis Potter presented the county's recommended FY2020-21 budget at a virtual Board of Commissioners meeting on May 18, 2020, and the board voted to hold a public hearing on the budget June 1 at 6 p.m.
Potter told commissioners he did not include salary increases in the recommended budget because the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to fully assess pay requests and because he did not want to propose a tax increase. He estimated the county's fund balance would be "around 24%" once sales-tax receipts are known after July.
The recommended budget also reflects deferred capital planning: Potter said he attempted to prepare a capital outlay plan but lacked time to complete it adequately. Commissioners pressed several budget items during the discussion. Chair D. Cole Phelps asked why the sheriff had not requested vehicles; Potter said the sheriff plans to lease three vehicles this year rather than purchase them.
Commissioner Johnson questioned a school funding request and confirmed the recommendation is for $400,000, not $800,000. Potter said the county would not be "unjustified" in finding $100,000 for the school system but did not commit to a specific amount.
The board voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing on the recommended budget for June 1, 2020, to be held virtually via Zoom and in the commissioners' room. Clerk Julie J. Bennett explained meeting access procedures for members of the public.
Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda approval: motion by Commissioner Walker, seconded by Commissioner Riddick; roll-call vote unanimous (AYE: Johnson, Phelps, Sexton, Riddick, Walker). - Reconvene as Board of Equalization and Review: motion by Commissioner Riddick; carried unanimously. Recess of that board until June 1: motion by Commissioner Johnson; carried unanimously. - Motion to set public hearing on the FY2020-21 budget for June 1 at 6:00 PM: motion by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Commissioner Sexton; roll-call vote unanimous (AYE: Johnson, Phelps, Riddick, Sexton, Walker).
The board discussed follow-up work before June 1, and Potter offered to meet with two commissioners at a time to review the budget. The June 1 meeting will include a public hearing on the budget and will be conducted in a hybrid format (in-person, Zoom and Facebook streaming).
