Putnam Commissioners Ask Department Heads To Make Cuts

The Putnam County Budget Committee asked department heads and elected officials Monday night to cut ten percent of their request increases. The proposal made in an effort to cover a proposed cost of living adjustment for county employees. That increase would cost the county some $345,000. Sheriff Eddie Farris said making a cut would be […]
Putnam Budget Committee Deliberating COLA Method

The Putnam County Budget Committee deciding on how to give a cost of living adjustment to employees in the new fiscal year during Monday’s meeting. Budget Committee Chair Ben Rodgers said Putnam County currently offers employees a step raise, which is meant to keep up with cost of living. Rodgers said in years past, the […]
Putnam Budget Passes With Cost Of Living Raise

The Putnam County Commission Budget Committee approved all proposed budgets with no changes Monday night. The final budget will include $1,000 cost of living increases for all full time county employees. That is in addition to the step raises included in the pay plan adopted last year. Mayor Randy Porter said the flat rate increase […]
Putnam Sets April 15 Budget Meeting, Committee

Putnam County will begin its budget work with a first budget committee meeting April 15. Commissioners ratified County Mayor Randy Porter’s nine-person committee selection. The committee includes David Andrews, Grover Bennett, Ron Chaffin, Kathy Dunn, David Gentry, Adam Johnson, Dale Moss, Ben Rodgers, and Jonathan Williams. The state mandates commissioners’ approval of a budget calendar. […]
Commissioners Express Concerns About Nabors’ Decision

A move by Putnam County Clerk Wayne Nabors to use collected fees for employee bonuses drew the ire of several Putnam County Commissioners. Nabors received commission approval to use some $20,000 in restricted money to provide bonuses to employees inside the County Clerk’s Office. Restricted funds are generated by the department and can only be […]
Putnam To Front Senior Centers Grant Money For Kitchen Equipment

Putnam County Commissioners voted Monday night to purchase kitchen equipment for its senior centers that cannot afford to spend reimbursable grant money. Mayor Randy Porter said the state awarded $30,000 reimbursable grants to every senior citizen center across the state. He said the centers in Baxter, Algood, and Monterey have let him know that they […]
987 Putnam Tax Payers Could Meet The Requirements Of Property Tax Freeze

987 Putnam County taxpayers could benefit from an income-related property tax freeze. That data point came from meeting one of a Putnam County Commission sub-committee on a proposed Tax Freeze Tuesday. That number is based on an annual income limit of $36,700, the most allowed by the state. The county could choose to lower the […]
Rodgers Re-Elected As Chair Of County Commission; New Public Comment Policy

Putnam County Commissioners re-elected Ben Rodgers as chair for the new commission year Monday night. Commissioner Chris Cassetty will serve as chair pro-tem. The Commission’s Fiscal Review committee elected Kathy Dunn as chair with Cathy Reel elected as vice chair. Terry Randolph selected as chair of Planning Committee, with Darren Wilson elected as vice chair. […]
Rodgers: Wheel Tax An Option, But Freed Up Sales Tax Dollars Ideal In Future

A wheel tax could work give Putnam County another revenue source instead of property tax increases in the future. Budget Committee Chair Ben Rodgers said just over half the counties in the state have implemented a wheel tax to help fund a variety of projects. He said the average tax is about $25 per vehicle […]
Putnam Commissioners Approve Budget With 18.8 Cent Property Tax Increase

After about an hour of discussion Monday night, Putnam County Commissioners approved a new fiscal year budget with an 18.8 cent property tax increase. The county will use some $6.5 million in fund balance to make up the budget deficit, reducing the reserves to about $18 million. That’s still above the Comptroller’s request that a […]