The motion to accept County Road Supervisor Glenn Ray's budget failed several times. The first motion, made by Commissioner Merlin Driver, to accept Ray's proposed budget with the exception of his pay increase of 3% to all employees was denied with eight commissioners voting no, one absent, and one passing. Ray's budget asked for a .09 cent increase going from .13 cents to .22 cents.
Several commissioners wanted to know why Ray needed the increase and he stated that due to the high cost of gas and oil he needed more to operate his vehicles. Ray also stated that he was mandated to put 6.68% toward retirement and he had not planned for this.
Commissioner Driver said that Ray has to deal with over 700 miles of road and people in the county deserve better roads.
Commissioner Billy Bransford stated that he could not vote for the budget because they had made everyone else operate on the 5% decrease from last year and he could not see giving Ray an increase.
Ray then asked the commissioners to understand that not everyone else had gas and oil to pay other than the sheriff and he did not have to operate on the 5% decrease last year either.
Ray also said that he had expenses that he could not always see like vehicle break downs and engine trouble. This was not a problem for other county offices.
A motion was then made by Commissioner Vernon Biggs to accept the budget as Ray requested. This motion was seconded by Driver, but it also failed.
Commissioner Driver then made a motion to give Ray a .06 cent increase. This motion failed. Another motion was made to give Ray a .04 cent increase and this motion failed.
Commissioner Anna Dean Carter then made a motion that this budget and all other budgets be deferred to the July 12 meeting. This would give the commissioners several more weeks to review the budgets and they might be able to reach an agreement. The commissioners moved to do so.
In other business before the commissioners a motion was made to lower the speed limit to 30 mph on Tuck Road. Eleven people on the road signed a petition to have the speed limit at 25 and five people wanted the limit to be at 35 so the residents on the street agreed to compromise and have the limit set at 30.
The private act concerning the zoning in Macon County was passed in the state and is now in affect. For complete list of rules you can contact the Macon County Mayor's office.
Forty-two budget amendments were approved.
A motion was made that all invoices be turned in for the 2004-2005 fiscal year by June 15, 2005. The body moved to do so.
Due to the 4th of July holiday the next committee as a whole meeting will be held Monday, July 12, at 7 p.m.
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