Commission approves budget amendments

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Bedford County Board of Commissioners approved budget amendments for the school system and the county general budget during a relatively short and uneventful meeting on Tuesday night.

County Mayor Eugene Ray, who provided details of the meeting to the Times-Gazette, said that he emphasized the importance of new rules governing disclosure statements as they apply to the commission. Three commissioners -- P.T. "Biff" Farrar, Linda Yockey and Jeff Yoes -- are school system employees, and must state this and declare that they are voting their consciences every time a vote on the school budget comes up. Commissioner Tony Barrett is a sheriff's department employee and Commissioner Mark Thomas is chief of Bedford County Fire Department, which was taken back under county control last summer.

Budget amendments bring the budget in line with unexpected changes in income or expense, such as grant funds which are received or unexpected overtime which is incurred.

* The commission also voted to extend the contract of County Finance Director Robert Daniel for four years.

"He has done an outstanding job," Ray told the Times-Gazette, saying Daniel has improved the county's record-keeping, purchasing and financial management.

The finance director position was created when the county placed itself under the state's Financial Management Act of 1981, which requires a centralized county finance department.

* Commissioners deferred action on a vacancy on the Emergency Communications District (E-911) board created by the resignation of Jimmy Patterson. Ray said he hasn't yet identified a good candidate to bring to the commission for approval.

Ray said the Seventh District vacancy on Bedford County Board of Education created by the death of Jerry Naron will be brought before the rules and legislative committee this month and should be considered by the commission next month.

* Commissioners voted to approve declaring surplus a truck and garbage containers owned by Bedford County Solid Waste Authority.

* Commissioners discussed the $400 bonus given to county employees and confirmed that it was not given to school system employees. Some commissioners had not realized that the bonus did not apply to school system employees.