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Houston County budget committee approves fuel, jail and utilities increases; allocates $17,000 for jail air conditioning
Summary
The county budget committee on April 7 approved several line-item increases — including a $10,000 boost for shared gasoline, a raise to the jail food budget to $60,000, and a $35,000 electricity allocation — and directed $17,000 of impact funds to repair or replace the jail’s air conditioner.
The Houston County budget committee approved a series of budget adjustments at its April 7 meeting, increasing fuel and utilities allocations, boosting the jail food budget and authorizing $17,000 in impact funds to repair or replace an air-conditioning unit at the county jail.
The committee moved to increase the sheriff’s shared gasoline line (54110425) by $10,000, raising the line to 55,500 to respond to higher fuel costs. Commissioner French made the motion; it was seconded and approved. The sheriff told commissioners he had moved roughly $11,000 between line items recently after a nearly $2,800 fuel bill and said he had not anticipated fuel reaching about $4 a gallon.
The committee also approved a motion to raise the jail food line (54-210-422) to $60,000 after members discussed recent price volatility in food and fuel and the county’s need to maintain prisoner meals and medical services. Commissioner French moved the increase and Robert Marchman seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.
In separate votes, commissioners approved raising the county electricity allocation to $35,000 and agreed to allocate $17,000 of impact funds to repair or replace an aging jail air-conditioning unit. Commissioner French proposed the impact-fund allocation and the motion was seconded and approved.
During presentations, the sheriff described ongoing budget pressures tied to mandatory state pay increases and rising fuel and grocery costs. He said the county maintains a cafeteria reserve of roughly $22,000 and that the personnel committee had addressed a prior request related to a youth service officer, who will receive a travel/mileage fund and a county-issued cell phone so the officer will not have to use personal funds for job-related travel.
The committee debated how best to track fuel for school resource officers (SROs). Staff and the sheriff described problems with the on-site tank and receipt system; several members supported exploring a credit-card system administered through the mayor’s office that would allow SRO grant funds to directly pay for fuel. The chair assigned Rachel (staff) to check into the possibility of issuing fuel cards for SROs and report back.
The committee also approved increasing the civil defense gasoline line (54410-425) to $5,000 to reflect greater fuel use tied to emergency management work. That motion, moved by Commissioner Bagot, was seconded and carried.
Committee members requested that the budget committee present recommendations on the jail air-conditioner at the April legislative meeting and flagged the upcoming discussion of commissioners’ salaries. The meeting adjourned with a reminder that the next session will be held Monday night.
Votes at a glance: approved — minutes; agenda; increase shared gasoline (54110425) +$10,000; increase jail food (54-210-422) to $60,000; electricity to $35,000; allocate $17,000 impact funds for jail AC; increase civil defense gasoline (54410-425) to $5,000.
Sources: Remarks and motions recorded during the Houston County budget committee meeting on April 7. All quotes and attributions in this article are taken from committee discussion and presentations.
