Clinton County Fiscal Court began dealing with the harsh reality of a strained budget at its monthly meeting last Thursday evening, March 17 with five of six members present for the two hour and 15-minute meeting,.

The meeting also included another closed session to purportedly discuss “personnel” issues that lasted nearly an hour.

By the end of the meeting, the court had voted unanimously to cut funding to at least two local entities that receive county monies, the Clinton County Public Library and the Mountain View Recreation Park.

Before the budget shortfall discussions had ended in Thursday’s meeting, the subject of the county occupational tax – which was said to be falling short of funding necessary services – had found it’s way into the conversation as well, although suggestions of increasing that tax were not directly made.

After it was announced that, once again, no bids had been submitted on additional repairs and items for the Community Center, the current year’s budget came in to play during the paying of monthly claims and bills.

Magistrate Mickey Riddle, in citing the county’s apparent financial condition, said he was opposed to allotting $25,000 total from LGEA funds–$12,500 each–to the Park Board and Public Library. Riddle said he had nothing against either the park or library, but said county employees and other services should come first.

Judge/Executive Lyle Huff said both entities served the needs of the county and further that the $25,000 total was already in the current 2010-11 fiscal year budget and was included in the claims and bills because those LGEA funds had now become available.

Following some discussion, a motion was made to take out the allotted amounts to both the park and library and passed by unanimous vote.

However, prior to the meeting being adjourned and following the executive session on personnel, Magistrate Riddle rescinded his earlier motion to delete all of the $12,500 from each entity and instead made a motion to disburse $6,500, or just over half, to each the park board and public library. That motion also received unanimous approval.

Riddle said he rescinded his motion due to an earlier vote of the court in which they agreed to help fund some programs within the Community Center. He said he felt if the court was going to help in that area they should also help with the park and library.

Riddle was referring to a vote by the court to allot $2,000 to the Lake Cumberland Community Action Agency toward its annual garden program. Those funds will also come from the LGEA account. The motion to assist that program passed 4-0 with Riddle abstaining.

Following that vote, Magistrate Willard Johnson said he didn’t want to make money off patrons of the Community Center, but suggested taking the $25 use fee for the facility and put it into the LGEA account to be used for senior citizens’ program at the facility. He later put that in the form of a motion, which passed by a 4-1 vote, with Riddle and Magistrates Phillip Parrigin and Patty Guinn voting yes and Magistrate Ricky Craig voting no.

Craig explained the dissenting vote by saying he felt the Community Center was for community use and those who use the facility for whatever reason should not be charged.

The new measure of not refunding the $25 fee to those who use the facility will begin July 1, or the start of the new fiscal year.

Another area that will impact the county budget is that of the ambulance service.

Four members of the Barbara Southwood family, including herself and three daughters, were at the meeting to ask the court about rumors they had heard about the local ambulance service being “farmed out” to another county for operation.

The family lost a son and sibling 20 years ago in an accident when the ambulance service was operated by an out-of-town entity and family members said it took the ambulance (from Wayne County) 45 minutes to get to the scene, saying “this family feels very strongly about it.” (Keeping the ambulance service local.)

Judge Huff and the magistrates assured the family, the rumors had no basis and that the county had the responsibility to maintain the service and noted the county couldn’t sell it, only lease it. They also noted the local hospital apparently was not interested in partnering with the county to operate the service.

One of the daughters, a long-time employee of Equity Group, also questioned the amount of occupational tax that company alone generates and said she thought that tax was passed primarily to help fund the service.

Judge Huff said that 10 years ago, when the economy was sufficient to provide all the services, it wasn’t a problem. But, he added, just in the past few years, began losing money. He noted, last month alone the ambulance service was $37,000 over budget for the month, making it difficult for the occupational tax revenues to keep funding the service. The tax also goes to other services and helps make up shortfalls in other areas.

Near the end of the meeting, Judge Huff noted there would be no further disbursements in some areas in the next budget due to shortfalls in revenue and the requirement that the county have a balanced budget.

The current fiscal year ends June 30 and a new 2011-12 year budget will be presented to the court members in a couple of months for consideration.

The court dealt with several other issues at its meeting last week and a separate article can be found beginning on page 1 of this week’s Clinton County News.