GROVETON — Trinity County Commissioners have reached a balanced budget, requiring cuts across all departments.
At a budget workshop on Friday, County Judge Danny Martin said that following work at the Aug. 11 meeting, and subsequently going through the budget line by line, the county did get to a balanced budget with no tax increase.
Other areas that helped included finding that forestry grant funds had not been used and certain disbursements had been cut, he said
County Auditor Lenzy Hargrave said every department received cuts, mostly in office supplies; however, the Sheriff’s Office received cuts in personnel; inmate housing was brought down to $1.1 million, saving $200,000; and all capital assets were removed.
At the Aug. 11 meeting, which included a budget workshop, county residents came to voice support for the AgriLife Extension Office. In previous discussions, there was talk regarding the staff and office space, including having agents work remotely.
District Extension Administrator Sheila Harris said it would be detrimental to the county to close the AgriLife extension office, and that Trinity County has around 200 4-H members.
Commissioners Neal Smith and Tommy Park, as well as Martin, said that the idea of shuttering the Extension Office was a mischaracterization, that the county never intended to close the office.
“I love Trinity, and I was in FFA, and when I became a commissioner, was proud to become involved in Friday,” Smith said. “Apple Springs, Little Centerville, all do wonderful things; we never intended to close office. We have some problems in that office, but we are getting that straightened out.”
Park also said that there was misinformation that the county did not pursue a $5 million grant that could have been used to expand the jail. He said it would not allow the county to house its prisoners, and the county would have to staff it, as well as provide almost $12 million up front before being reimbursed.
Sheriff Woody Wallace said he felt the county should have applied for it anyway, and if it turns out that there would be problems, they could refuse the money.
In a related matter, the county approved a policy change for the use of credit cards issued to employees.
Smith said that the expenses on credit cards are never seen by the court, and was adamant that all incoming and outgoing funds should come before the court for approval.
“We need to know where our money is at,” he said. “It’s to protect (our auditor) and to protect us. This is the people’s money and they deserve to know.”
Smith also questioned budget line items for miscellaneous expenses; he maintained that there is no such thing, as all money goes to something specific.
“I don’t want another check signed unless it comes before this court,” he said.
In other business, the county:
