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Shelby County Commission approves $115 million budget

by

Erica Techo

Shelby County is planning for an approximately $400,000 surplus in the upcoming fiscal year. During its Sept. 11 meeting, the Shelby County Commission approved a $115.9 million expenditures budget, with $116.3 million in projected revenues for fiscal year 2018, which starts Oct. 1.

The budget was passed following multiple work sessions during which the Commission discussed upcoming projects and needs from various departments. It was passed unanimously, with Commissioner Tommy Edwards absent from the meeting.

During a work session on Aug. 28, County Manager Alex Dudchock and Lindsey Allison said overall the budget for FY18 was standard.

“These schedules here, you don’t have any anomalies,” Dudchock said.

Chief Financial Officer Butch Burbage said he would agree with the statement that the budget did not have much that stood out.

One part of the budget that got a lot of discussion, however, was the Sheriff’s Office budget. On Aug. 28, Dudchock told the Commission that Sheriff John Samaniego was set to finish the fiscal year under budget. According to their calculations, Burbage said the sheriff’s operating expenses would be around $150,000 under budget, although the exact amount would not be known until the fiscal year closed.

When making requests for FY18, Samaniego made requests for increases in his budget.

“Sheriff Samaniego made a very comprehensive and a very conservative request from the commission,” Burbage said. “Yes, he did ask for some increases, but it was not [an] outlandish amount, in my opinion.”

Burbage also said Samaniego has consistently had a conservative approach to his budget, which allowed the Commission to provide increases this year.

Samaniego addressed the Commission during its Sept. 11 meeting, prior to the budget vote, and mentioned a few items that are needed for the sheriff’s office. They are in need of 16 new patrol vehicles, Samaniego said, and could require another full time employee in the future due to new requirements for mental health and suicide watch in the jail.

 “We’ve found that that’s created another position, another FTE [full-time employee] position,” he said. “That, and the increase in numbers this year — with the population of the county getting bigger, our population within the facility has gained, even though we’ve really worked hand-in-hand with all of the alternative programs, it’s still inching up.”

He voiced the hope to put together a committee to discuss the potential need for another employee in the future.

According to the general fund, there will be around $22 million for the sheriff’s office’s operating expenses and $100,000 for capital projects. There is also $600,000 in the county’s capital projects fund, which Burbage said will primarily be used for replacement vehicles.

Other items in the budget include more than $59 million for operational costs, $6.35 million for highway capital projects, $3.8 million for capital improvement projects and $20 million for enterprise funds for landfill and water system operations.

The budget also included a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for FY18. The 2 percent adjustment will be applied on Oct. 1, for applicable county employees.

From the general fund, around $23 million is allotted for general government costs including operations, salaries, license offices and other operations; around $31 million is allotted for public safety, including the sheriff’s office operating budget, the jail building, juvenile court and detention services, fire services and other items; $604,012 is allotted for health; $1.175 million is allotted for welfare, culture, and recreation; and $150,000 is allotted for education.

The county also budgeted just over $8.8 million for capital projects in the upcoming fiscal year. Of that, $1.5 million is planned for buildings around the county, including work at the courthouse, the community services building, the jail and others. There is also $1.2 million for development, maintenance and improvement at Heardmont Park, Veteran’s Park in Alabaster, Beeswax Park and Old Mill Square in Columbiana, and planned work at Cahaba River Park.

Other budget items include $2.28 million for promotions, just over $5 million for landfill operations and $14.97 million for water system operations.

Despite the budget being nearly $10 million more than the FY17 budget, the expected surplus is nearly twice what was expected last year.

“It has been years, years since we have been in this room and have been able to say the following comments: The bottom right number tells you as of today’s meeting, what is currently not budgeted against an expenditure,” he said at the work session. “… We come to you today at $425,120 [in surplus].”

Dudchock told the Commission in August that there could be projects that arise during the fiscal year, which is why it is not recommended for the county to budget out every last dollar. The surplus, he said, could go toward those items if they arise.

Burbage said the surplus allows the county more flexibility for unforeseen events such as natural disasters or infrastructure problems such as a bridge collapsing. It also indicates good accounting practices, he said.

“It shows us that from a conservative nature, we’ve been able to budget our expenditures within that method, too, so we’re not spending way beyond our means,” Burbage said.

Other Commission business included:

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