Wednesday's Internet Edition, September 08, 2010.

Commissioners had previously considered upping the levy rate to the maximum allowed without a required public hearing. Instead, commissioners were able to trim budget requests in the document, which totals just over $2.8 million.

David Boothe, Rodney Cox and John Greathouse met in special session Tuesday evening at the courthouse to discuss the budget. They are expected to give final approval during their regular session on Tuesday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m.

Trimming the budget requestss of circuit clerk Beverly Greathouse and assessor Emily Westfall quickly made up a shortfall that existed entering the meeting. Greathouse’s request was cut by $2,000 in requests for record books and supplies, still leaving a $1,000 increase in each line item.

Westfall, who attended to present her budget, agreed to eliminate a $7,250 request that would have made a lease payment on a new vehicle for her office. She said the current vehicle used for field assessments had 68,000 miles and was nearly 10 years old.

Cox, the commission president, suggested using carryover money to purchase the vehicle rather than devoting funds in three budget years.

Sheriff Mike Harper also attended to review his budget with commissioners. Harper increased his line item for law enforcement overtime, noting that the department has been one deputy short since October and that the rate of pay had increased.

The remainder of the sheriff’s proposed budget was unchanged from the current budget, although Boothe wanted to cut $500 from the department’s line item for vehicle maintenance and repairs.

“The sheriff’s used that much money taking his wife’s lunch to her of a day,” Boothe said.

Harper did not respond and the other commissioners dismissed the suggestion. Later in the meeting, after the sheriff had gone, Boothe again said he would like to take $500 from Harper’s budget to send a message.

“I don’t see how we can justify spending public money (for that),” he said, again failing to receive support from the other commissioners. “That’s not what I was elected for.”

Cox wrapped up the meeting by saying the current budget process was one of the easiest he has experienced since joining the commission.