The White County Central Maintenance Department needed some $197,000 in additional money to cover the remaining weeks of the fiscal year.
White County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said that department repairs all the county vehicles. Robinson said accidents and major repairs are creating a shortfall.
“Quite a few patrol cars wrecked this year and that’s what kind of put that line item over budget,” Robinson said. “And of course, when it comes to just repairs in general, you never know when the alternator is going to out out or the radiator or transmission or motor problem. So, that’s something that’s hard to predict and budget.”
Robinson said the money will be moved from the county’s general fund. Robinson said if any money is left over by the end of this fiscal year it will be returned to the general fund.
“The department’s real good, and of course myself and our finance director Chad Marcum both oversee expenses out of there,” Robinson said. “So, no, we do not let anything got to waste there. But it does protect us from having a budget issue with a comptroller at the end of the year.”
Robinson said the Central Maintenance Department was already in place when he took office. Robinson said he believes what they do saves the county in the long run.
“All department heads can now schedule services, breaks, oil changes, tires, any kind of normal maintenance that a department would normally sublet is in house now and there is a savings there. We have a couple of certified mechanics that work for us. And I just do believe that it’s been a very successful program for White County.”
The White County Budget Committee approved the move this week.
