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The Coffee County Budget and Finance Committee approved a series of amendments to this year’s budget to go before the full County Commission that includes one from the 911/Communication Center Amended Budget that is more money what the county budgeted.

According to Budget Director Marianna Edinger the amendment reduces the county’s fund balance by an additional $28,898

“We only budgeted for 18 and they have had 19 on here,” Edinger told the committee during the May 30 Budget and Finance meeting.

Edinger said that when a dispatcher quit, the communication center was not supposed to hire an additional employee in order to get the number of dispatchers back to 18. But that has not happened yet.

“That’s caused this overage, so we will have a reduction in the general fund balance of $28,898,” she said.

Budget and Finance Chairman Lynn Sebourn asked if it was clear how many employees they were going to have for the 2024-2025 fiscal-year budget.

“Can the 911 board do hiring and firing and budget things without clearing it with us first if they expect us to fund it?” he asked. “If the county is going to be a major contributor to 911’s budget, they can’t set the budget for us.”

The $12,687 of the overage comes from budgeted overtime pay, while the remainder comes from the Unassigned Fund Balance.

911 Director Scott LeDuc said in a follow-up email that “since 911 is a 24/7 operation with increasing demands in call volume and staffing, we are blessed in Coffee County to employ and train the number of employees it takes to provide excellent, unfailing service to our citizens and first responders.” 

He explained that per an agreement with the county concerning staffing and budget numbers, if projected numbers are to exceed the county budget, then 911 will immediately reimburse the county for any overages that may occur. 

“This has worked very well in the past and allows us to properly train new employees without suffering through a crisis shortage of service to our citizens and first responders,” he said, adding that it was common practice throughout the state.

“We have developed an outstanding partnership with our county government and the benefits of success are shining through,” LeDuc said.  “We look forward to many years of success for the benefit of our citizens and first responders, they deserve the very best.”

Additional hits to the county fund balance approved at the meeting included one for $59,814 related to the Drug Fund.