The White County Budget Committee considered several new property tax rates at its meeting Tuesday, but ultimately decided to individually talk to Commissioners about what would pass.
County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said the tax rate needs to be set at a minimum of $1.38 to cover county expenses. Finance Director Chad Marcum proposed a $1.42 tax rate. Robinson said he will call each commissioner individually and use their input for a new proposal.
“I will not discuss what any commissioner said with you, and I won’t tell any other commissioner what you said,” Robinson said. “But I need some sort of consensus over the next week of where you’re comfortable, what you’re with, so I can try to put together a budget that will pass.”
Both Robinson and Marcum included a deficit in their proposals. Robinson’s deficit would be some $300,000 and Marcum’s would be some $167,000.
A similar proposal was brought forth by Commission Chair Derrick Hutchings, which would set the property tax rate at $1.40. The biggest difference was that Marcum wanted to get rid of the tiered employee payscale in favor of a percent raise, where Hutchings favored leaving the payscale as is.
Hutchings came to his number by cutting an office assistant and the hiring of new sheriff’s deputies. Hutchings said he supports converting the EMA director to a full time position as well, but he cut it out to increase the chances of getting a budget passed.
“If the four of us pass something and it don’t pass [full commission], then we’re back in the same thing again with a handful of commissioners here and not here,” Hutchings said.
A few commissioners who are not on the budget committee attended the meeting and gave input when requested.
EMA Director Matt McBride said if he were full time, there would be more time to search for grants, which could potentially offset the director’s salary. Commissioner David Cranford voiced support for making the EMA director a full time position, as well as keeping raises in the budget.
Cranford said White County is so far behind market value wages that huge increases are needed to catch up. Cranford said a failure to give pay raises may cause good employees to leave for better paying jobs somewhere else.
“We’ve got a bunch of people back there that have worked their tails off and are licensed, and I’m telling you, some of them are the cream of the crop,” Cranford said. “And we’re going to let them walk out the door and not even say anything because we’re worried about somebody who doesn’t understand. I want what’s best for our county, and I want what’s best for your family, my family, their family, and all of their families.”
Discussion on the Parks and Recreation Director position was centered on its necessity. Marcum said if there was no full time director hired, the funding would go somewhere else in that department, per a county ordinance.
The White County Budget Committee will reconvene next Wednesday.
