By Ray King
When the Jefferson County Quorum Court meets Monday at 5:30 p.m., they will be asked to approve a just over $35-million total budget for 2023.
That budget includes $10.841 million for County General and another $24.163 million in miscellaneous funds, including $5.279 million for the road department $4.140 million for the adult jail, $1.647 million for the juvenile detention center and $1.386 million from the sheriff’s sales and use tax. Another $2.294 million was set aside for MECA (Metropolitan Emergency Communications Association).
The Sheriff’s Office budget from County General was $2.329 million
During a meeting of the court’s Finance Committee Tuesday, nine of the 13 members of the county’s legislative body voted to send the budget to the full court while four others, Alfred Carroll, Brenda Bishop Gaddy, and Reginal Johnson voted no. The fourth no was for Justice of the Peace Melanie Dumas who had to leave early for an emergency and did not vote.
Justice of the Peace Ted Harden, who is the longest-serving member of the Quorum Court was asked after the meeting to explain the budget process.
Before the vote, County Judge Gerald Robinson said that this year, the revenues were there to give every elected official pretty much what they asked for and Harden was asked about that.
In other business, an appropriation for $25,418.88 which will be used to make the final payment on three sheriff’s department cars was approved. Those funds were received by the county as insurance payments for two wrecked automobiles.
Also recommended for approval was the appointment of Chuck Morgan to the Economic Development Corporation Board. He will replace George Makris, who resigned Oct. 28. Morgan will serve until Dec. 31, 2027.
