In its regularly scheduled work session on Monday, July 15, the Limestone County Commission continued to listen to funding requests from various county programs as they carried on with their budgeting process.
The commission heard from five different programs on Monday morning, including the district attorney’s office and Athens Main Street, all of which spoke on the need for more appropriations as the county gets ready to finalize the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget.
“We usually try to get the budget together in September, before the turn of the fiscal year on Oct. 1, but we’ve had numerous requests so far,” Limestone County Commission Chairman Collin Daly said. “We are investing in these programs to get money back.”
District 1 Commissioner Daryl Sammet also talked to The News Courier on Monday after the meeting concluded, noting the growth of the county as the reasoning behind the higher appropriations request.
“All of our departments do a really good job in terms of coming back with level funding,” Sammet said. “That means they are doing real well with handling their employees, salaries and all the other money they have. As the cost of living goes up, because of the growth of the county, so will everything else.”
District Attorney Brian C.T. Jones spoke to the commission about the need of funding to his office as a way to maintain the public safety issue in the community.
“I am hopeful that they understand the magnitude of the problem. If we can’t do everything in our power to keep our citizens safe then we are not getting our job done,” Jones said. “As they sit down and go line by line through this new budget, I feel hopeful that they will find some room for our office.”
Tere Richardson, executive director of Athens Main Street, noted that her program heavily relies on the funding from the Limestone County Commission to continue to do their jobs for the community.
“The appropriation that we get from the city and the county is vital for Athens Main Street,” Richardson said. “We are able to fund our events through sponsorships. We are able to fund our projects through donations. But, just to do the everyday work of coming into the office and paying the rent — you have to have an appropriation.”
In other business the commission:
— Approved the claims from July 3, totaling $729,589.97.
— Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Heritage Health Solutions for the county to participate in a cost reduction program for inmate medical claims.
— Approved the application for a Technology and Equipment Program Invitational Grant for the Sheriff’s department in the amount of $425,000.
— Approved the hire of Corry Ayers as a corrections officer, effective July 22, 2024, pending a drug screening.
— Approved the change of the Staffing Plan under “License Commission” to reflect “Seven Tag and Title Clerks” and “Five Senior Tag and Title Clerks.”
— Approved the promotion of Lori Crow from help desk clerk to tag and title clerk in the License Commissioner’s Office, effective July 15, 2024.
— Approved the hire of Marjorie Diaz as help desk clerk in the License Commissioner’s Office, effective July 15, 2024.
— Approved various merit increases for county employees.
— Approved a budget revision for District 3.