Cherokee County Probate Judge and Commission Chairman Kirk Day was in the WEIS Radio studios on Friday to address some issues of concern in regard to budget matters within the county.

Topping the list was the deficit associated with the Cherokee County Detention Center and the problem is about to grow, due in large part, to the fact that a new category of crime has been created, under which offenders would be housed not in state facilities, but instead, in county jails – shifting the financial burden to those counties:

In addition to the 20 page summary prepared for the members of the County Commission – Day has issued a News Release outlining problems facing the county and possible solutions to those problems.

_______________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN ANNOUNCES PRIORITIES FOR THE COUNTY’S FY 2016 BUDGET

Centre, AL, May 21, 2015 – Probate Judge and County Commission Chairman Kirk Day announced today what his priorities will be for the Cherokee County Commission as they begin work later this summer on the county’s annual budget for FY 2016. Chairman Day stated: “The main priority for us will be to address the county’s lingering $1.1 million deficit associated with the Cherokee County Detention Center. Secondly, we need to remedy the problem we have of our newly-certified deputies leaving us to go work for higher paying departments in the surrounding area. The turnover rate for this mission critical duty position is the highest in the county. In fact, deputies are pretty much the only employees we have other than retirees who are leaving us voluntarily. It is important for everyone to understand that it is impossible for the Commission to address the situation with our deputies, or any other budgetary issue for that matter, without first eliminating our deficit.”

Since FY 2010, the Cherokee County Detention Center’s (CCDC) operating costs have exceeded the amount that the Commission allocated for its operation. FY 2010 marked the tipping point at which the funding mechanism previously adopted by the Commission in 1994 could no longer keep pace with the exponential increase in the CCDC’s operating costs due to dramatic changes in the inmate population, increased inmate healthcare costs, across the board price hikes from suppliers, and a sluggish economy. Although the Commission has taken various steps to address the problem, those measures have not entirely solved the problem. This lingering deficit is now affecting the county’s credit worthiness and has become the basis for repeated audit finding against the Commission for the past 2 years (it will be 3 years in a row with the FY 2014 audit). Chairman Day feels that the Commission must take more drastic measures now to ensure the fiscal health of the county. “I prepared a 20-page report for commissioners concerning the need to take stronger action in the upcoming fiscal year. This report also listed recommendations for their consideration. I look forward to hearing their ideas for solutions to this most urgent issue facing the county,” said Day. He went on to add that, “the prison reform bill which passed the Legislature creates a new classification of felony involving property crimes and certain drug-related offences. Those convicted under this new classification would spend their sentence not in a state facility, but in the county jail. The cost for this will no longer be paid for by the state, but by the county. Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver has told me that he is in the process of trying to predict what the increase in our inmate population might be should Governor Bentley sign this bill into law. This latest development only adds urgency to the Commission’s need to eliminate our deficit and adequately fund the CCDC now.”

The second priority Day is setting for the Commission as they get closer to deliberating next year’s budget concerns the pay rate for the county’s deputies. Information obtained by the Commission clearly shows why many of our newly-certified deputies choose to seek employment elsewhere:

In November of 2013, the Commission gave approval to contract with the Center for Governmental Services at Auburn University to prepare a report on the county’s personnel system. This report, delivered to the county in December of 2014, consisted of job descriptions and classifications as well as a proposed pay plan. As part of their study, Auburn University compared Cherokee County’s pay rates to all of the neighboring counties. Not surprisingly, these counties with a much higher tax base were paying their deputies substantially more. Chairman Day went on to explain how the Commission will use this information: “The Auburn study will be used as a source of information and as a guide to help the county transition from what is essentially a longevity -based pay system to one that has a more structured pay scale. Currently, the county’s employee-related expenses for our 120 full-time and 14 part-time employees amount to some $6.4 million annually. That’s 44% of the county’s total budget. The pay plan proposed by Auburn University will be used to help guide us in restructuring our personnel system, but would be impossible for us to adopt outright given the county’s $1.1 million deficit. What we can do, however, is use the study to prioritize those jobs in the county that are clearly underpaid and work to correct those problems as funds are available. Our deputies are at the top of that list.”

“I want to be clear that I value the hard work of all of our county’s employees,” Day stated, “but, the harsh reality is that this deficit we are shouldering makes it impossible for the Commission to fix all of our problems at once.” This issue has been a priority for Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver. He has expressed to Chairman Day that the current situation is making it impossible for him to keep the number of qualified deputies needed. Day added these last thoughts: “I know this is a subject of great concern to all of the Commissioners. Oftentimes, we will hire a new deputy, pay for them to become certified, and then have them leave a short time later for a higher paying job in our area. We want to keep our deputies. We all feel a sense of frustration in that our current financial situation has thus far prevented us from addressing Sheriff Shaver’s very valid concerns. That is why it is of paramount importance that the Commission deals with our deficit now so that we will finally be in a position to face the many budgetary challenges coming our way.”

Contact:  Kirk Day / County Commission Chairman / 256-927-3668

_______________

During Friday’s in-depth interview Day also discussed a recent study conducted by Auburn University regarding pay rates in local county government, including law enforcement – as compared to surrounding areas.

You can hear the entire interview by clicking on the link provided.