2009 COUNTY BUDGET ON QUORUM COMMITTEES’ AGENDAS

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

A 2009 budget of nearly $12.26 million will be considered Wednesday by committees of the Jefferson County Quorum Court when they meet at 5:30 p.m.

Although committees of the county’s legislative body normally meet on Tuesday, this month’s session was moved to Wednesday because of activities at the courthouse for the general election.

The proposed 2009 budget includes $8,783,345 for county general, and $3,467,948 for the county road department, and is an increase of just over $550,000 from the 2008 budget.

Most of the increase in the 2009 budget is the result of a recommended three percent salary increase for county employees with at least one year of employment. The increases will not apply to elected officials, including constables and members of the quorum court.

Following the meeting, the second of two public hearings on that budget will be conducted. The budget is expected to be approved by the quorum court Nov. 10.

A number of other 2009 budgets will also be considered Wednesday, including more than $3.9 million for the adult jail. Included in that figure is $3.4 million expected to be generated by a quarter—cent maintenance and operations sales tax approved by county voters when they approved construction of the facility, and another $515,000 plus from the public safety sales tax approved by voters in 2000.

Other funds from that public safety sales tax will be used by volunteer fire departments in the county ($200,000), the sheriff’s department ($718,110) and the Juvenile Justice Center ($800,000).

Also on the subject of the juvenile center, the justices of the peace will consider a recommended $485,100 appropriation for the educational programs at the center, with the bulk of those funds for salaries and benefits.

Other 2009 budget recommendations on the agenda include: $725,000 for the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Public Library System; $264,953 for the Solid Waste Management Fund; $930,000 for the Solid Waste Contract Fund; $294,356 for the Jefferson County Recycling Resource Recovery Fund; $140,000 for Jefferson County Tire Disposal; $100,000 for the Jefferson County/District Tire Disposal Fund; $26,332 for a County Environmental Officer; $60,000 to cover jury fees in the five divisions of Circuit Court; $47,600 for the Public Defender’s Office; $11,408.04 for the Port Connector Road; $442,215 for Jefferson County Reappraisal; $117,044 for the Tax Collector’s Automation Fund; $55,653 for the Treasurer’s Automation Fund, and; $78,309 for the Circuit Clerk—County Recorder’s Cost Fund.