Commission debates merits of 911 fees
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At Monday’s meeting of Randolph County Commission, commissioners passed the budget for 2024-2025, but the passage didn’t come without some interesting questions before the vote. The estimated revenue for the next year is $14,615,239, with expenses estimated at $19,178,224.731. County Administrator and CFO Travis Heard said the $4,562,985.71 deficit would be covered by transferring unclaimed funds, using remaining ARPA money to complete projects and using Rebuild Alabama funds for the reclamation project on County Road 87.
“If we had granted everything on everybody’s wish list we would have been another $2,000,000 over budget,” Heard said.
Commissioners Larry Roberts and Derek Farr were absent from the meeting and did not vote on the budget.
One item that was a touchy subject for commissioners during budget hearings was the dispatch fees by 911 for fire departments and rescue squad. Commissioners in preliminary discussions agreed to pay the fees in the amount of $12,000, which was put in the budget.
However, after further discussion, commissioners took out the line item in the budget. It was stated that they felt the amount would increase every year and they couldn’t afford it.
It is a disappointment for fire departments and rescue squad, but the question remains why should you have to pay if you are a volunteer?
Commissioner Larry Roberts at Thursday’s workshop said, “911 is giving a bad perception in the county. They are putting pressure on the commission with some of the decisions they have recently made…ambulance service bids and dispatch fees. We can’t control what they do, the only thing we can do is appoint board members. No volunteer should have to pay to volunteer. It’s not our fault what is happening out there.”
The final solution came when Heard said that Simplified Sellers Use Tax (SSUT) funds would be withheld from 911 until the $12,000 is paid by the fire departments, possibly by December. At that time the SSUT funds payment would resume to 911.
Roberts went on to question what 911 is doing with all the money they are receiving. Heard said the commission has paid out $177,118.74 to 911 since 2020 and it is estimated they will pay out $86,000 in 2025. What is quite surprising the county pays 911 for rental of the county’s EMA office. The amount of rent has gone from $350 per month in 2020 to $800 per month for 2024 and 2025. The county also gives 10 percent of the SSUT that is generated from online purchases. That amount since 2020 is averaging over $3,000.
The amount given to 911 is a combined amount of the rent and tax. All commissioners agreed with Roberts that something has to be done with 911 and the fees they charge.
At Monday’s meeting Commissioner Pam Johnson agreed saying, “Volunteers don’t need to pay to volunteer. We need clarification on the SSUT and how those funds are being spent. We are paying $9,600 in rent for the EMA office and I just don’t understand where the money is going.” Chairman Chris Brown said he too agrees with Johnson and Roberts.
“These fire departments are having a tough time getting volunteers and when they get a new member it costs several thousand dollars to equip them. I’m against it too.”
In other budget information, public safety receives 72 percent of general fund revenue and 33 percent goes to the sheriff’s department. The highway department receives 30 percent of overall budgeted expenditures.
The complete budget will be added to the county commission’s web site.
In other business, the commission:
- Approved renewing the contract with Department of Youth Services and Lee County Youth Development Center.
- Tabled an alcohol license application for Allen Food Marts, Inc. located at Lakeside.
- Appointed Angie Key to the Economic Development Board.
- Scheduled the next regular meeting for October due to Columbus Day.
- Tabled renewing the Drug Court contract with Patti McGuire.
- Tabled renewing the inmate medical contract with Southern Health Partners.
- Approved a resolution adopting procedures for open records requests.
- Approved a resolution designating a public officer for open record requests.
- Awarded the annual bids for the highway department.
- Announced the courthouse and annexes would be closed on October 14 for Columbus Day.
- Heard from Sheriff David Cofield there are 85 inmates in the county jail, 73 male and 12 female.
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