The Kaufman County Commissioners unanimously approved the county's $43.4 million 2013-14 Fiscal Year budget during the Commissioners' Court meeting on Monday, September 9, 2013. Also approved was the county tax rate of $0.5565 which remains unchanged from last year.
Revenue from property taxes increased $713,369, 2.6% from last year's budget. $621,498 of that amount was property tax revenue raised from new property added to the tax roll. The General Fund Budget was reduced $527,061 from the previous year.
The approval of the budget didn't come without opposition though, from Kaufman County Jail employees. In the approved budget, 21 jail employee positions have been cut to save approximately $1.26 million in the jail budget. The county's medical contract on the jail was also reduced by $121,985.
Commissioners previously sought bids to privatize the jail which would additionally cut the jail budget but were halted by Kaufman County Sheriff David Brynes who terminated the negotiations in accordance with the Texas Local Government Code.
In a series of letters-to-the-editor, County Commissioner Jimmy Vrzalik and jail privatization proponent John Cook campaigned to continue the talks citing additional savings that could potentially be realized.
Support by Sheriff Brynes for privatizing the jail was retracted after an amendment was made by the commissioners to the request for proposal allowing private companies to bid on the management of the county jail without any employee guarantees.
An additional $1.2 million was removed from the jail budget and placed in the newly created 911 Regional Call Center budget. This was done in preparation for the call center at the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office to be moved into the building that houses the Kaufman County Emergency Management Department. Once relocated, the call center will become a regional call center servicing all Kaufman County municipalities that enter into an inter-local agreement with the county to handle their dispatch needs.
The employee and county contributions to the Texas County and District Retirement System will remain the same. Commissioners previously discussed lowering the employee contributions and cited additional upfront money that could be given to the employees and result in possible county savings on the county contributions. Several county employees voiced opposition and wanted to see that money in their retirement plans. The commissioners yielded and reversed course, opting to keep the contributions the same.
Each full-time employee employed as of April 1, 2013, will receive a one-time $600 pay supplement in November 2013. Kaufman County elected officials are not eligible for the supplement. The county will also continue to fund the employee share of medical insurance of $704.54 per employee per month.
The Kaufman County Commissioners' Road and Bridge Budget was also increased by $1,044,892.
The approval of the budget didn't come without opposition though, from Kaufman County Jail employees. In the approved budget, 21 jail employee positions have been cut to save approximately $1.26 million in the jail budget. The county's medical contract on the jail was also reduced by $121,985.
Commissioners previously sought bids to privatize the jail which would additionally cut the jail budget but were halted by Kaufman County Sheriff David Brynes who terminated the negotiations in accordance with the Texas Local Government Code.
In a series of letters-to-the-editor, County Commissioner Jimmy Vrzalik and jail privatization proponent John Cook campaigned to continue the talks citing additional savings that could potentially be realized.
Support by Sheriff Brynes for privatizing the jail was retracted after an amendment was made by the commissioners to the request for proposal allowing private companies to bid on the management of the county jail without any employee guarantees.
An additional $1.2 million was removed from the jail budget and placed in the newly created 911 Regional Call Center budget. This was done in preparation for the call center at the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office to be moved into the building that houses the Kaufman County Emergency Management Department. Once relocated, the call center will become a regional call center servicing all Kaufman County municipalities that enter into an inter-local agreement with the county to handle their dispatch needs.
The employee and county contributions to the Texas County and District Retirement System will remain the same. Commissioners previously discussed lowering the employee contributions and cited additional upfront money that could be given to the employees and result in possible county savings on the county contributions. Several county employees voiced opposition and wanted to see that money in their retirement plans. The commissioners yielded and reversed course, opting to keep the contributions the same.
Each full-time employee employed as of April 1, 2013, will receive a one-time $600 pay supplement in November 2013. Kaufman County elected officials are not eligible for the supplement. The county will also continue to fund the employee share of medical insurance of $704.54 per employee per month.
The Kaufman County Commissioners' Road and Bridge Budget was also increased by $1,044,892.