Beech Tree News Network

After a lengthy meeting on Monday night the Butler County Fiscal Court finally has a budget for fiscal year 2015-16. All magistrates and a near-capacity crowd of visitors filled the courtroom on Monday night as the Court took up the budget debate for the third time in as many weeks.

After calling the meeting to order County Judge-Executive David Fields asked Magistrate Chad Tyree to give a short presentation on the recent history of the county budget, expenditures, and assets. Tyree's whiteboard showed how the county's expenditures don't always use the entire budget, which leads to a carryover of assets, thereby creating a monetary surplus. Tyree showed how the carryover has been used in the past to balance the budget.

Continuing his presentation, Tyree showed the gradual increase in spending to fund the jail, and to pay benefits for the County Clerk's office and the Sheriff's office. Benefits for the Clerk's office have increased from $59,700 in 2010 to $114,299 in 2015. Over the same period Sheriff's office benefits increased from $109,130 to $147,298.

Funding for the jail was at $262,912 in the fiscal year 2010-11 budget, and peaked at $458,344 in FY 2012-13. Much of the increase in jail funding was due to state-mandated staff increases and training. Since FY 2012-13 jail expenditures have decreased yearly to their present level of $416,898.

The first working budget for FY 2015-16 used $770,000 of carryover funds in order to be balanced. That would leave only $372,000 in reserve for next year. The budget proposed Monday night uses $588,252 of the carryover funds. Tyree used his presentation to point out that because of the county's dwindling surplus, and increased expenses, cuts are necessary in order to balance the budget without further depleting the carryover.

After Tyree's presentation, Judge Fields emphasized to the magistrates the importance of passing a budget before the state's deadline.

"We need this budget passed," said Fields.

The Judge explained that the new budget had been arrived at by getting proposals on each line item from each magistrate. An average of the proposed amounts was used to produce the budget.

Judge Fields then allowed comments from Bruce White, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Butler County, and Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward. Cuts to the sheriff's office and Boys and Girls Club budgets were at the center of displeasure at the first budget proposed by the Court.

White spoke first. He told the Court that the annual contribution made to the Boys and Girls Club amounts to less than one-tenth of one percent of the County's budget. By White's math the county spends approximately $166 per year on each child served by the Boys and Girls Club. He then compared the amount to the money spent at the Butler County Animal Shelter.

After praising the work done by the shelter, White told the room that the shelter's budget is approximately $125,000 and services about sixty animals at any one time. He said that totals approximately $2,000 per animal per year. He pointed out that since the Fiscal Court and City Council have been funding the Boys and Girls Club that only one magistrate and one council member had voted against the contribution.

White asked what kind of message it sends to potential businesses and industries that the county gives $125,000 per year to the animal shelter, and only $12,500 per year to the Boys and Girls Club.

Bruce White closed his remarks saying, "You can't balance the budget on the backs of these kids."

Next to speak was Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward. Ward’s budget for 2016 was cut by more than $8,400 in the proposed budget. He said that the cut would force him to lay off a deputy. Ward said that the deputy most likely to be cut would be the school resource officer.

Ward acknowledged the work done by the Boys and Girls Club to help the children of Butler County, but added, “I supply security for 2,200 kids. That’s what will have to go.”

The sheriff told the Court that he has never asked for more money than what was budgeted since he’s been in office. He said his office finds ways to work within its budget, even when that meant cutting office staff to offset the loss of income from the Housing Authority. Referring to Magistrate Tyree’s whiteboard budget breakdown Ward said of his budget, “I have never gone over this amount.”

Ward said that he was starting to understand the root of the conflicts between the Fiscal Court and his predecessor Joe Gaddie. “Every time he came in here you were gouging him,” said Sheriff Ward.

He made it clear that his concerns aren’t related to his salary, which is set by the state. Instead he said that he was trying to protect his deputies. “I’m not up here for me. It’s my guys I’m worried about.”

Ward also took issue with the proposed 2% raise budgeted for the Occupational Tax Administrator, the Judge’s Secretary, and the County Treasurer. Ward said that the raises were closer to 6%. Treasurer Susan Johnson told Ward that the totals reflected wages and benefits. Judge David Fields added that the Occupational Tax Administrator had increased more because her position was made full time.

After nearly 45 minutes of comments from Sheriff Ward and Bruce White a roll call vote was taken on the proposed budget. Magistrates voted down the measure by a 4-1 vote, with 4th District Magistrate David Whittinghill casting the only vote in favor of the budget.

Judge Fields then asked the magistrates if there was a version of the budget they could pass at the meeting. He reiterated that the budget deadline is approaching and without a budget no funds would be available to anyone on July 1st. Fields started with 1st District Magistrate Stevie Givens and asked what concessions would need to be made in order to pass a budget.

Givens was clear in his wishes for the budget. “I’d like to see Scottie (Ward) get his money back.” Givens went on to express his opposition to giving money to the Boys and Girls Club at the cost of losing a deputy sheriff. “You can’t give money to someone else and lay a county official off,” said Givens. He continued saying, “We can take it from the Boys and Girls Club and not lose a deputy.”

Judge Fields then asked for input from 2nd District Magistrate Johnny Tuck. Tuck said he was working on a plan and asked for a few minutes to make calculations. Magistrate Chad Tyree withheld comments pending Tuck’s revisions. Magistrate David Whittinghill asked for clarification on what the sheriff did when his office lost the housing authority funding, and was told office staff was cut to preserve hours for the deputies. 5th District Magistrate Bobby Moore told the Court that he agreed with Stevie Givens on the issue.

After several minutes of calculations Johnny Tuck proposed taking animal control away from the Sheriff’s Office, along with the $11,000 of annual animal control funding. Ward balked at the suggestion, pointing out that Tuck’s plan took away $11,000 in order to preserve $8,400 in funding. According to Ward, taking on animal control and other responsibilities was done in order to have enough money to fund his office and pay deputies.
Judge Fields then pleaded with Magistrates to find a workable compromise on the budget. “A bad budget right now is better than no budget at all,” said the Judge-Executive.
More calculations from Magistrates Tuck and Tyree followed. After several more minutes Tuck proposed a budget that fully restored funds to the fire departments, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Sheriff’s Office. In order to free up the money Tuck’s plan calls for a $10,000 cut to the Butler County Animal Shelter.

Tuck made a motion to accept the revised budget with Tyree seconding. Another roll call vote was taken. This time Tuck, Tyree, and 5th District Magistrate Bobby Moore voted in favor of the budget, and it passed by a 3-2 vote.

Following the vote Magistrate Givens made the point that the budget crisis hasn’t been solved, and similar issues would still be a factor in making the budget next year.

The budget will now be sent to the state capitol in Frankfort for approval. Pending approval a second-reading and vote on the budget will be needed from the Fiscal Court. Upon successful passage of the second reading, and subsequent publication in the newspaper of record the budget will become law and will be final.

The next regular meeting of the Butler County Fiscal Court will be on Monday, June 22nd at 5 p.m. at the Butler County Courthouse.

Story by Joe K. Morris, Beech Tree News

Photos by Jeremy Hack, Beech Tree News