Clark Sheriff's budget approved by fiscal court

The Clark County Fiscal Court on Wednesday approved a $1.5 million budget for the Sheriff’s Office, which includes a cost-of-living raise for employees.
According to estimates, personnel costs will constitute the bulk of expenses in the 2011 calendar year.
Sheriff Berl Perdue expects to spend around $752,000 on employee salaries and close to $87,000 for the sheriff’s position. Another $98,000 is allocated for benefits.
Perdue also factored in a 3 percent across-the-board raise for employees, but said he may forego raises next year if the economy fails to improve.
“All budgets are a guess, especially in a fee office because you can only spend what you bring in,” the sheriff said. “Everything is a high estimate, but we always work within our budget. If we don’t have the money, then we don’t spent it.”
Other major expenses in the budget include $80,000 for gasoline, $50,000 for vehicles and $35,000 for vehicle maintenance.
On the revenue side, the office expects to receive $605,000 from commissions on tax collections. More than $105,000 will be collected in fees for services such as serving papers and auto inspections. About $173,000 in revenue is also expected from grants.
Perdue said he hopes gasoline prices remain steady in 2011, otherwise the cost may cut into other areas of the budget.
For now, he said: “It’s a workable budget. We’d all love more, but we only have what we have so we’ll work within it.”
In other business,
— After adjourning to closed session for personnel matters, the court suspended jail deputy Tom Owens from duty at the Clark County Detention Center through the end of the year.
— The court amended its bid acceptance procedure, giving contractors five business days to produce a certificate of insurance after a bid is awarded.
In the past, the court has required a certificate when bids were submitted. However, the policy has led to the court approve a higher contract recently when the low bidder narrowly failed to meet the deadline.
— The court approved the maximum amount of funding for deputies and assistants at the Sheriff’s Office at $846,749 for next year. The court also approved a budget amendment and three bond agreements for the office.
— A second reading was given to an ordinance to refinance a loan for the court’s downtown parking lot project.
— The job description for the Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation maintenance supervisor was revised.
—Kenneth Segress was appointed to the East Clark Water District Board.
—Jennifer Fink was hired as a part-time animal shelter attendant.
— Anna Lenz and Pamela Jones were hired as full-time temporary deputy jailers.

Contact Mike Wynn at mwynn@winchestersun.com.