FAYETTEVILLE — Washington County Quorum Court members were apparently serious when they said there would be no new hiring this year because of anticipated money shortfalls.
Coroner Roger Morris, the only full-time employee of that department, had included in his preliminary budget about $31,000 for a secretary at the new coroner’s building. Morris said he needed someone to answer phones and be there for official business when he and his deputies were out on calls.
Morris said he’d been using road department staff and part-time help to cover the phones when out of the office.
Budget Committee Chairman Steve Zega was somewhat sympathetic to Morris’ problem of keeping his office covered.
“People don’t die on schedules,” Zega said. “They die when they die. It’s hard to schedule around that.”
Ultimately, the committee voted 6 to 5 to take the position out of the coroner’s preliminary budget, telling Morris they just can’t see hiring additional people.
“We’re not questioning whether you need it,” District 12 Justice of the Peace Ann Harbison said. “We’re discussing the most efficient way to do it.”
Morris was told he’s free to compile more information on options and come back to the committee before a final budget is approved later this year.
A preliminary budget is expected to be ready by the committee’s next session on Oct. 11.
District 3 Justice of the Peace Gary Carnahan said he wants to see a preliminary bottom line as soon as possible.
The county does have one new position it must pay for next year for a new circuit judge who will be elected in November and take office in January. Either Zega or Joanna Taylor of Huntsville will fill that seat.
The budget for that office was prepared by Circuit Judge Kim Smith based on the budgets of the other judges’ offices. It includes one-time expenditures of about $15,000 for computers, monitors, printers and court reporting equipment and an annual budget of about $40,000. The state pays the judges’ salaries.
The committee also approved preliminary budgets for the other six existing circuit courts, which are the same as last year or only nominally higher to replace equipment.
Also approved were preliminary budgets for the prosecuting attorney and public defender’s offices.
The committee also passed a preliminary budget for the election commission, but not before taking officials to task over the number of polling places that were open during the recent school elections because some polling places were combined.
Justices of the Peace Michah Neal and Harbison said they’d like to see all polling places within a school district open for every election, particularly in rural areas.
“I would be willing to pay that to make sure everybody can vote,” Neal said.
Election Commission Chairman John Burrow said the commission should be able to do that.