CULLMAN – During a busy session Thursday morning, the Cullman County Commission approved its fiscal year 2018 budget. The budget totaled $54.2 million, with $21.5 million in the General Fund.
County Administrator Gary Teichmiller stated that the 2018 budget represented a 2.6 percent increase over this year’s budget, with most increases coming from increased healthcare costs and a one-time payout to retired county employees (see below). The budget was not presented in detail, but Commission Chairman Kenneth Walker said that it should be available on the commission website by Monday, Oct. 2.
The retiree payout, which was tabled last month for review, was approved at this meeting. It is based on a state legislative resolution, and will give each retired County employee a one-time payment of $2 per month of service, with a minimum payment of $300. Based on the total tenures of 178 retired county employees or beneficiaries, the cost to the County will be $88,988.
The commission also approved the creation of a pay plan for the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) separate from the regular County payroll. The separation will not involve changes in pay, but will make the pay scale for the CCSO clearer and easier to understand for both current employees and potential recruits.
A merger was approved between Mental Healthcare of Cullman/Cullman Area Mental Health Authority and the Huntsville-Madison County Mental Health Board. Look for more on this development in a separate story from The Tribune.
American Proteins, which had previously been granted a sales tax exemption for a project, was reported to have fallen behind on that project due to weather issues. The commission granted the company a 120-day extension on its abatement.
A $1,000 appropriation to Wallace State’s Future Foundation scholarship fund and a $1,250 donation to the Farm Y’all Festival were approved.
The commission approved several board appointments and reappointments:
- James Knight to the Duck River Reservoir Oversight Board
- Brenda Scott to the Library Board of Trustees, replacing Dan Scott
- Wells Turners to the E-911 Board of Commissioners, replacing Steve Griffith
- Kenneth Nail to the E-911 Board of Commissioners (reappointment)
- J.L. Parker to the E-911 Board of Commissioners (reappointment)
The next commission meeting will take place Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. in the commission meeting room in the Cullman County Courthouse, with work session at 8:30. The public is invited to attend.
Copyright 2017 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
