Wood County Commissioners started the budget process with a series of workshops last week. The opening talks have been a basic overview of the various departments in the county. In the weeks to come, serious talks with individual department heads will lead to the establishment of the new budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Topics ranged from constable vehicle purchases to courthouse security as well as law enforcement and jail needs.

County Judge Lucy Hebron directed the workshops with the commissioners, and County Auditor Terri Sellars was on hand to give specifics on the past budget as well as answering commissioners’ questions.

Commissioners discussed the vehicle situation for Wood County constables. There has been a rotation for vehicles for constables.

Sellars talked about past purchases. “The constable in Precinct 2 (Kelly Smith) got his vehicle in January of 2016 followed by Constable 1 (Steve Bowser) who got his in Oct. 20, 2016.  The constable in Precinct 3 (John McQueen) got one in January 2018 while the constable in Precinct 4 (Chase Glover) got one in April 2021,” Sellars informed.

Hebron said there were departments that didn’t ask for anything new and things would be the same as last year. The county judge and county clerk have no changes. The veteran’s administration office is seeking an increase. The district judge has no change other than a 2% cost of living increase.

Justice of the Peace (JP) in Precinct 1 Tony Gilbreath asked for a $200 increase in services and supplies and salary increase for employees; Precinct 2 JP Janae Holland asked for zero increase in services and supplies and a salary increase for employees; Precinct 3 Jerry Parker also asked for an increase in services and supplies and a salary increase for employees; and Precinct 4 Cindy Weems seeks a decrease in services and supplies and a salary bump for employees.

The JP effort to raise employees has been sought for several years. The judges are asking their employees be raised to the same level as their peers in all other county departments. A lively debate can be expected when the JPs come before the commissioners personally to seek the increases.

The district attorney’s office shows no changes for office, crime victims and county legal counsel outside attorney’s fees. The county auditor’s office is the same except for a small increase in phone costs. The elections office is seeking a raise in part-time help during elections from $10 per hour to $12 per hour.

The treasurer’s department is showing a small reduction of $100. In the county tax office of Carol Taylor, she is asking for an increase in part-time salaries. Taylor’s budget is subject to the building of the new tax office also.

“We are going to have to look at that in greater detail,” Judge Hebron said.

Information Technology (IT) has asked for some salary adjustments, but their overall budget for services and supplies is a decrease. There were some other areas in the IT department where there were questions which need to be resolved.

Hebron had a question concerning the IT department and courthouse security. “When we get to the security for the courthouse where is that money going to come from?” Hebron asked. “And is that someone’s budget request because I don’t think I have seen it.”

Sellars said in the past it had been run through courthouse security.

The budget process continued after Tuesday’s commissioners meeting until noon and will continue the rest of the week with workshops from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Workshops are also scheduled for Aug. 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Meetings with department heads for specific budget matters are on tap for the next few days.