In today’s news:
Last night’s commissioners meeting was heavily attended – overwhelmingly by those interested in the zoning change from agricultural to conditional use in Sugar Valley. The matter was tabled as incorrect notification of potentially affected neighbors occurred. The matter will start over at the zoning board. A brief explanation of the new budget was given; the budget has since been released and can be found here. It gives small raises to county employees, benefit costs have also risen significantly. Outside small increases for mandated items, it appears that even a raised millage rate will not cover the same services next year.
The operational budgets of a majority of departments saw cuts. In an earlier presentation Administrator Jim Ledbetter and Commission Chairman Owens indicated that HB 581 was responsible for both the small tax increase and larger cuts to the operation of most agencies. Seeing the budget makes clear that the amendment process that Ledbetter said was being explained to department heads will likely be used. Interestingly, in the case of the Senior Center as one example, the department head made a presentation to the board about growing needs of the agencies many programs and the facility. The departments budget was cut. At the time of the director’s appearance before the board, no commissioner offered substantive questions regarding the needs expressed. Clearly, outside the amendment process, no expansion of service is funded.
Ranger will get a new-build 1650 square foot Community Center with, according to Ledbetter’s assistant, Assistant Administrator Keith King, more parking. The facility will, however, hold fewer people than the soon-to-be-demolished school that was being remodeled after a bid process failed to account, per Ledbetter and King, for the true state of the building.
By: Brent Jones
