GROVETON — Trinity County Commissioners discussed cutting staff and offices to help prop up flagging revenues and create a balanced budget.
County Judge Danny Martin offered suggestions to cut secretary positions in several offices, including for the County Clerk and Extension Agent, possibly shuttering the Extension Agent’s office, and trimming full- and part-time deputies from the Sheriff’s Office.
The county discussed austerity measures at a special meeting on Thursday.
Martin proposed cutting full-time deputy positions from 13 to 10 and moving from three part-time officers to one.
Two of those positions were lost when the city of Groveton opted not to renew their contract with the SO for law enforcement. He also suggested cutting eligible jailer positions from six to five, since as of this time there only are five on staff.
County Clerk Shasta Bergman pushed back on the suggestion that she lose a secretary’s position; she pointed out that the county could move to mileage reimbursement instead of offering large vehicle allowances.
She also said that had she been consulted, she pointed out that she has a records management fund, not tied to county tax revenues, that could be used to fund a secretary’s position to keep someone from losing a job.
Commissioners also brought up closing the jail; Commissioner Neal Smith called the facility a museum and said it should be shown as such.
Commissioner Tommy Park said he was not opposed to cutting staff at the Sheriff’s Office but wanted to make sure that any cuts would not jeopardize the county’s SB 22 funding from the state. He also said that if positions are eliminated, they need to give people as much notice as possible.
Despite the belt-tightening, Smith questioned whether the county should look into a policy that would keep the county offices open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“These offices should be open from 8 to 5 for normal business hours for the public,” he said. “This is not our little kingdom. It's the people's, right? And we should make it as convenient for them as possible. They're paying the bills. So, I want to look at that.”
Smith also said there should be no such thing as miscellaneous expenses, which show up on every office’s budget. He said there needs to be documentation for everything the county pays for.
No action was taken; the county will discuss more budget matters at a special meeting on Friday.
