Hancock County budget meeting debates ROE funding, public-defender coverage and payroll concerns

Wayne Bollin, chair, called the Hancock County budget meeting to order at 7 p.m. on Sept. 30 at the county courthouse in Carthage. Board members and visitors reviewed departmental budgets, heard a Regional Office of Education presentation and discussed staffing and benefit issues before adjourning and recessing to Oct. 2.

John Meixner, a representative of the Regional Office of Education, outlined the ROE budget and said Hancock County contributes about 23.46% of the ROE’s budget; the ROE employs roughly 90 people. Meixner told the board the ROE’s role is to check for statutory compliance and for school buildings to meet code, and that it does not direct local school policy. Board member Steve Lucie asked whether the ROE supports new academic standards and whether it could help schools implement opt-in or opt-out policies for mental-health evaluations; Meixner replied the ROE enforces compliance but cannot set district policy. The meeting also included a discussion of potential consolidation of services.

Visitor Holly Wilde-Tillman raised concerns about payroll equity, saying that after payroll proposals were approved a substantial bonus was paid to two employees while other offices received no cost-of-living adjustment and insurance premiums were increased. The comment was presented to the board as a fairness and budget-impact concern.

Bobi James described challenges covering the county’s conflict public defender role if that position were reduced or not renewed. James said she was unsure how she would fill that spot under a reduced budget and warned that, if a local conflict defender could not be found within 48 hours, she would be unable to proceed with a case. Board members said they would like to explore a lawyer rotation to cover conflicts; the transcript records that in 2027 the state will designate and subsidize conflict public defenders for the county.

James also said she experienced a courthouse internet outage and called Mr. Dedey, who arrived that morning to restore service; she expressed concern that hiring counsel from outside the area could create availability problems for time-sensitive legal work. Justin Greeley reported that he and Mr. Dedey had met and that Dedey is willing to remain part time for another year at $40,000; the board needs to clarify Dedey’s expected duties for the contract year. Dedey is scheduled to attend the next budget meeting.

The levy was described in the meeting as a 3.3% increase from last year. When board members asked what would happen if the ROE received no county funding, Justin Greeley (reached by phone during the meeting) said that state statute requires the county to pay its portion to the ROE or the ROE could pursue legal remedies.

The treasurer’s budget was reviewed and deductions were made. The coroner’s storage line item was left at $4,000 but will require that storage services be contracted out; the board also discussed whether to drop the capital improvement fund to $0 this year or retain it and next year allocate funds to the Building Commission for the courthouse roof.

Dennis Castlebury moved to recess the meeting until Oct. 2 at 7:00 p.m.; Harry Douglas seconded the motion. All members present voted aye and the meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

The board scheduled follow-up budget work for Oct. 2; Mr. Dedey is expected to attend that session and board members requested clearer written direction before finalizing personnel arrangements.