Published: June 24, 2009 10:05 pm      

Pulaski County entities feeling budget crunch

Sheriff’s Department asks that shortfall be included in 2009-10 financial outlook

Pulaski County’s 2009-2010 budget may be balanced, but that doesn’t mean various county entities aren’t feeling the crunch.

Lt. Detective Brett Whitaker with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department appeared before the Pulaski County Fiscal Court Tuesday to ask that a shortfall in the sheriff’s department budget be noted and perhaps added to the county budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

“Sheriff (Todd) Wood wanted to make sure that amount was included in the 2010 budget along with the regularly scheduled amount,” Whitaker told Pulaski County Judge-executive Barty Bullock and the magistrates on Tuesday.

Whitaker appeared on behalf of Wood, who was out of town at a National Sheriff’s Association Conference and could not attend.

Pulaski County Treasurer Arlene Young said the sheriff’s department asked for $719,000 from the county for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. The county paid approximately $404,000 of that, leaving a shortfall of around $315,000.

“There’s no way we can do that,” Young said about the request to add that difference to next year’s budget. “To balance the budget we had to cut everything. And there’s no way we can put that in the budget.”

Wood said on Wednesday that they approached the court on advice from the Department of Local Government, which told them the court would need to be notified of the discrepancy and would need to note the difference for next year’s budget.

He said he’s hopeful that the county will be able to include those funds in the budget should the economy begin to recover in the next year.

“I still believe that as things continue to get better ... I still think the county will make good on what they owe us,” Wood said. “It’s very important that they do.

“We operate on a budget that comes down to every penny,” Wood added.

While Bullock said during Tuesday’s meeting that the county will do what it can — should revenue begin to increase — to ensure the sheriff’s department gets that money, Young said it is difficult to know when the funding will be available.

“I really don’t think we ought to be promising what we can’t do,” Young said. “We’re still unsure about the occupational tax and we have to keep that in mind.”

Wood emphasized his appreciation to the court on Wednesday, stating that he’s confident the county will do what it can to help make up that shortfall.

“They (the court) have been very, very good to us,” Wood said. “It’s all of our hopes that the money will be there.”

Pulaski County Jailer Mike Harris also attended Tuesday’s meeting and he presented to the court a collection of weapons taken from prisoners at the Pulaski County Detention Center — including a toothbrush that was whittled down to serve as a weapon.

Harris has repeatedly asked that the court approve hazardous duty retirement pay for his full-time employees, only to be turned down.

The court has cited a bare-bones budget as the reason why the pay has not been given to the jail.

The sheriff’s department was given hazardous duty retirement pay by the county.

“It’s not maybe as dangerous as a deputy walking up on a car,” Harris said as he showed the items to the court. “It is a dangerous job. I just wanted you all to understand that.”

In other business from Tuesday’s fiscal court meeting:

• Annette Vaught with Bluegrass Cellular asked that the court consider making the company its cellular provider.

Bullock said he and the magistrates would review the proposed cell plan and consult with the court’s current provider before the next fiscal court meeting.

• Public Safety Director Tiger Robinson asked that the court approve the transfer of fire department-purchased vehicles.

Robinson first asked that a tanker truck purchased by Shopville Fire Department be declared surplus and be returned to that department. Robinson also asked that a 1990 GMC Suburban purchased by the Faubush Fire Department be declared as surplus and transferred to that department. Also included in the request was a 1997 GMC Yukon purchased by the Mt. Victory Fire Department to be declared as surplus.

The court approved those requests.

In a separate motion, the court also approved trading in a 1987 Class-A pumper for the Nancy Fire Department and it approved a request by Robinson to bid out a new Class A pumper for Haynes Knob Fire Department. That tanker would replace a 1993 pumper that has been “sort of a problem truck,” according to Robinson.

• The county road aid resolution and contract for fiscal year 2009-2010 was approved.

• The court voted to accept bids for various construction projects for the county.

• The court approved the second reading of the county budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 and the court also approved the second reading of a budget ordinance that would transfer a portion of funds received by the fire commission through the insurance premium tax to the county’s general fund.

• An emergency amendment — an additional $330,000 — to the fire fund was approved by the court.

“The fire fund collected more money than we anticipated,” said Young.

• The court approved the county personnel policy and approved the court’s salaries with no changes for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

• The court approved several fund transfers, along with budget transfers for end of the year “housekeeping,” according to Young, to ensure “all appropriations are balanced.”

Bullock and the magistrates also approved a list of nunc pro tunc bills presented by Young.

• The court approved setting several different speed limits, including a 25 mph speed limit on Highland Estates and a 35 mph on Floyd Switch-Estesburg Road.

• A request by the road department for 1,000 tons of rock was approved.

The next fiscal court meeting is slated for Tuesday, July 14. The public is welcome to attend.