AT A BUDGET WORKSHOP OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HELD IN AND FOR GADSDEN COUNTY, FLORIDA ON TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2010, AT 4:00 P.M.,  THE FOLLOWING PROCEEDINGS WERE HAD, VIZ.

 

 

 

PRESENT:             Eugene Lamb, Chair, District 1

                                Doug Croley, Vice-Chair, District 2

                                Gene Morgan, District 3

                                Sherrie Taylor, District 5

                                 

                                Johnny Williams, County Administrator

                                Muriel Straughn, Deputy Clerk

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

  County Administrator Johnny Williams - Revenue slightly decreased.  It may  be years before they recover.

 

  Sherrilyn Chess  -Overview of the Budget and how it was developed.   – contains no new staff, no new vehicles.  Instructed to look for opportunities to reduce the expenditures. 

 

  Commissioner Croley’s questions.

 

  Johnny Williams – Is this budget balanced?  Yes.

 

  Helene Shuler – Questions by Commissioner Croley

 

BCC wants a break out of all the projected revenues   -

 

  Commissioner Morgan – questions to the administrator.    Baffled that the BOCC only received the books on  this date.  Want to see trends in the budget. 

 

Next Budget Workshop will be on July 26th.  This meeting is for the purpose of introducing the budget.  

 

  Commissioner Taylor – lays concerns at foot of staff.

 

  Chair Lamb to administrator –

 

  Commissioner Taylor – no one rises to low expectations.  It is not difficult to get someone on staff to help Ms. Chess.   Make it happen.   Get the job done.

 

  Commissioner Croley to Ms. Chess – What can we cut back in order to build up reserves.  Encouraged the participation of department heads at next meeting.  Asked to :  total the columns; 5 years of revenue history appear in the budget; need a trend line in order to know where to give emphasis; 

 

  Commissioner Taylor –

 

  Commissioner Morgan – This is something that is easy to fix.  We have staff in place that can get this done.  Working budget model  is ineffective.  Want to see how well we held to the budgets for the last three years.

 

Email any changes to the commissioners as they are made.

 

  Arthur Lawson    Interviewed a couple of people.  Background check on one prospect.  Will tender an offer.

 

  Commissioner Croley – If we get 5 year trend in summary, you can see how the county has been receiving it’s money.  Need breakdown of where the general fund revenues is coming from.   Look at the audits where it was closed out.   Approaching 11th month without an audit.  Not good public business.   It is inexcusable to be in the 11th month without an audit.