Cuts were made by Polk County commissioners to bring expenses in line with revenues, but not without back-and-forth flareups.
Six of the county’s nine commissioners met in Benton Tuesday, March 18, to work on the budget.
When the commissioners finished their last budget meeting April 27, revenues were $482,226 short of expenses. When discussions began last week, that number had decreased to $33,062.
Catrice Lowe, director of accounts and budgets, said the state appropriations figure had been received and added, reducing the difference by $395,667.
Commissioners first heard from Justin White, representing their insurance broker.
He said the county’s current insurance carrier had agreed to a 6 1/2% increase, down from an original 12% offer, if the county would not shop its policy this year.
He explained the county’s loss ratio – the amount of money paid out by the insurance company versus the amount of premiums paid by the county – was 98% last year.
This brought the county’s three-year average to 98%, while their rate has only increased an average of 6.34%. The national average rate increase is 12% per year.
Commissioner Greg Brooks asked White to go back to the company one more time and see if they would agree to a 5% increase.
The commissioners then agreed to reduce the East Polk Fire & Rescue request by $15,900, giving them the same amount as last year, $78,100.
Brooks said, “They’re going to get what they need,” explaining the increase in their original budget request been made because they didn’t spend all the money in this year’s budget.
After the budget process was explained to East Polk representatives, they have spent that money.
Then the commissioners discussed the West Polk Fire & Rescue budget, which had also increased.
Brooks again suggested cutting their budget $2,950, putting them back to the amount they received last year.
Several line item options to reduce this budget were rejected when they were opposed by commissioners Deway Esquinance and James Woody.
Commissioners Brooks, Debbie Davis, Samantha Trantham and John Pippenger all supported reductions.
Esquinance said, “I’d like to hear from them what they want cut.”
Brooks then asked if there was any way to increase revenue projections, but was told by Pippenger, “anything that could be adjusted has been adjusted.”
After a brief recess, when Brooks met with Sheriff Steve Ross, the commissioner motioned to raise the revenue line for state inmate reimbursement by $17,162, which would balance the budget.
Ross explained that with the courts opening back up, and anticipation the Tennessee Department of Corrections prisoner count at the jail would return to pre-COVID-19 levels, this would be a reasonable move.
Ross’ comments were backed up by a representative of CTAS.
However, when a vote was taken, the change was again blocked by Esquinance and Woody who voted no. Brooks, Pippenger, Trantham and Davis all approved the change.
Brooks then asked Esquinance what his idea would be to balance the budget, to which Esquinance said, “The same as last year.”
He said the insurance benefit should be taken away from commissioners and that expense removed. He also said the expense was kept secret from the public.
This drew strong opposition from Brooks, Trantham and Pippenger.
Brooks and Trantham explained Polk commissioners are the lowest paid in the state, making a base salary of $1,200 a year.
Pippenger told Esquinance there is “nothing that’s been hidden” from the public. He pointed to a 64-page book prepared by former Commissioner Karen Bracken’s husband in regard to the insurance, and the subject being covered extensively in news reports.
Esquinance made a motion to make the change, but it died for lack of a second.
Pippenger and Lowe then found a $15,000 line item expense that should have been taken out, further closing the revenue to expense gap.
Woody then suggested reducing a maintenance and repair item by $5,000, and with no discussion as to the need for increased maintenance, the item was reduced.
This change left revenue exceeding expenses by $2,838.
With a road department request still on the table, commissioners planned another budget session Tuesday, May 25.