CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Commission passed a $65.6 million budget for FY 2021 Tuesday morning. It includes a $23.6 million General Fund budget with $13.1 million, or 55.2%, budgeted for the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center. The budget for the road department, which includes the new gas tax and diesel tax, is $11.2 million.
“The total budget is a decrease of about 4%,” County Administrator Gary Teichmiller said. “That’s due to, this current year, we bought all this sanitation automated equipment, something we won’t have in next year’s budget.”
He added, “Most line items stayed the same. CARTS (Cullman Area Rural Transportation System) is buying some buses, but the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) is paying for them, $700,000. Then there is a one-step increase across the board for all county employees.”
Teichmiller explained that the County “played it safe” when creating the new budget.
He explained, “Internet sales tax, we may lose some of that. They might pass legislation to give some of that to the schools. With COVID and legislation, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”
The County is also waiting for a clarification on how money from the CARES Act can be used.
Said Teichmiller, “The $2 million, we used some of it for cleaning supplies, masks, computers and stuff like that. It’s not clear from the ACCA (Association of County Commissions of Alabama), if it can be used for public safety, and at one point in time, they were saying all deputies and detention are considered public safety. Now, they are coming back and saying that you’ve got to- The Department of Treasury and the Department of Finance differ on it- one of them is saying you have to document how that deputy’s job duties are different and how much of his time is devoted to COVID versus being out on patrol.”
Cullman County Attorney Emily Johnston added, “We’ve received multiple directives on how the money can be used.”
Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman stopped by the commission meeting to announce the resurfacing of Welcome Road/County Road 1564 in the Fairview and Baileyton communities. He said, “I’m thankful that this is money, through relationships I have built in Montgomery, that we are able to get that is not coming out of the taxpayer’s General Fund budget, your budget, in Cullman County. We are thankful that this money is coming from Montgomery directly so you can use this other money towards other people’s roads. This is $1.4 million total, and I am thankful that we are able to bring this project to you.”
Gudger said he is hopeful that the project will begin near the end of the year.
Cullman County Commission Chairman Kenneth Walker thanked Gudger, saying, “I’ve been here for almost eight years and this is the first money (we have received) from Montgomery as a commission on paving. We want to say thank you.”
Commissioner Kerry Watson also thanked Gudger, adding, “What I like about the project, it’s not only affecting Cullman County, it’s affecting two different municipalities, the Town of Fairview and the Town of Baileyton; it’s affecting Fairview schools and Parkside School.”
Gudger and Walker also praised Cullman County Engineer Bryan Cheatwood for his contributions to help make the project a reality. The commission authorized Walker to sign a construction agreement for the resurfacing and striping for the project, as well as a resolution approving the project.
Cullman County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Phyllis Little announced that the Alabama Department of Public Health will be conducting a drive-thru flu shot clinic Friday, Oct. 2 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center parking lot. The flu shots will cost $5; Medicare will be accepted.
In other business, the commission approved the following items:
- Recognition of June Bailey on her retirement after 34 years of service to the Cullman County Commission
- Proclamation for Pilot Club International Founders Day for the Pilot Club of Cullman
- Walker to sign a release of liability for the transfer of the old Crane Hill Senior Center building to the Crane Hill Volunteer Fire Department
- Resolution 2020-41 for FY 2021 ALDOT matching funds for the Cullman Regional Airport
- Resolution 2020-42 for FY 2021 FAA matching funds for Cullman Regional Airport
- Walker to sign the Alabama Department of Youth Services long-term detention subsidy contract for FY 2021
- Walker to sign the Alabama Department of Youth Services agency grant agreement for FY 2020-2021 in the amount of $248,984 for the benefit of Cullman, Blount and Jackson counties
- Walker to sign the Alabama Department of Youth Services grant agreement for FY 2020-2021 in the amount of $128,888 as the fiscal agent for Lauderdale County
- Cheatwood to sign a renewal with Diversified Computer Services, LLC
- Payment of $5,000 to terminate a lease hanger agreement at the Cullman Regional Airport to be in compliance with FAA regulations
- Appropriation from tourism money of $20,000 for the FLW Pro Series Fishing Tournament
- Rental of a 200 ton chiller for the courthouse from Aggreko, LLC for $6,480.25 monthly and a one-time setup fee of $4,112
- Resolution 2020-43- CARTS third party service contracts FY 2021
The next Cullman County Commission meeting will be Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m.
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