In total, commissioners said during the meeting, eliminating the department would save the county about $100,000 at a time officials are looking to make cuts to their fiscal year budget when projected revenues will be less than the current year.
In Ector County Judge Susan Redford’s proposed budget, the emergency management department was budgeted $89,739. Officials said the cuts will also include a vehicle and maintenance for the vehicle within the department.
The motion to cut the department was made by Ector County Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Simmons, who offered several cost-cutting measures during the Monday meeting. While most of them failed, Simmons was successful in persuading the court to cut the department.
“Typically what most governments do, and what we do, is most things get rolled over and then you add to it,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure we looked hard at the budget.”
The department, which was formed at the beginning of the current fiscal year, had Chris Earp appointed as the emergency management coordinator for Ector County. Before his hiring, Redford said the position was split between Human Resources Director Pat Patton, Health Department Director Gino Solla, David Gleaton with Ector County Sheriff’s Office, and assistant fire chiefs with Odessa Fire/Rescue.
Earp declined to comment Monday about the decision and Redford said she would have to meet with department heads about who would be interested in holding the position.
In Texas, and according to state law, county judges have responsibility for emergency preparedness and response within their local jurisdictions. However, because of the training and paperwork that goes with the position, a judge can appoint someone to the position.
By removing the department, Redford said Ector County would be the only county in the Permian Basin that did not have an appointed person to the position.
“That’s a critical position for the county,” Redford said. “… The duties of that position do require that you work with all of the local law enforcement and first responders, that you work with commissioners court, you report directly to the county judge, and that you make sure this community is prepared in case of a disaster.”
Redford, along with Commissioner for Precinct 3 Dale Childers, voted against the motion while Precinct 1 and Precinct 4 Commissioners Eddy Shelton and Armando Rodriguez joined Simmons.
Additionally, Simmons made motions to reduce the number of departmental staff approved during budget hearings earlier in the month that included new positions at the Ector County District Clerk’s office; bailiffs at the Ector County Courthouse; and new staff for the Ector County District Attorney’s office.
Those motions died from lack of a second during the hearing.
Simmons had also made a motion to freeze step raises for all county employees, including elected officials, but that motion also died from lack of a second. Redford said the county was the only local taxing entity not giving cost of living raises this fiscal year.
In 2013, commissioners voted to give elected officials step increases in their paychecks, which includes a 1.5 percent increase for the first five years and then increases every third year. This year will be the third year for some elected officials.
Shelton defended Simmons’ motions during the hearing.
“You know, Greg is just asking the tough questions,” Shelton said to an audience made up mostly of county department heads and elected officials. “What he’s doing is just try to save taxpayers money and do what is best for county employees.”
The reason for the cuts to the budget is due to slower oilfield activity, with mineral values for the county lower than previous years. Commissioners sought to decrease the budget by about $3 million and a final vote on the budget is scheduled Sept. 14.
During their Aug. 10 meeting, commissioners proposed a maximum tax rate of 31 cents per $100 valuation and a total tax rate of 34.1828 cents per $100 valuation. The current tax rate is 29.7296 cents per $100 valuation.
Simmons said that while it was possible to balance the budget with the higher tax rate, he said he wanted to make sure all avenues were explored to make sure commissioners could adopt the lowest tax rate possible.
“My concern is really, it always relies with the tax payer. As you know, every taxing entity in Ector County has proposed tax increases,” Simmons said. “What it does is compounds the burden that is being passed on to the tax payers.”
Commissioners also approved the closing costs for the purchase of the building located at 210 E. Fourth St., and 322 N. Texas Ave.
In total, the county will spend $226,431 for the building, which is currently owned by Melissa Hirsch and houses several different law offices. Redford said the county will continue to lease out those offices; however, a presentation submitted to the court on Aug. 24 shows the location as part of a new courthouse.
During that Aug. 24 presentation, Redford said a bond would not be on the ballot until May 2016 at the earliest, or on the November 2016 ballot. The project, if approved by voters, would not be scheduled for completion until 2019 or 2020.
“Even if that were to happen, which we’re not there yet … that study may sit on the shelf for a while, or the court may decide to send it for a vote,” Redford said.
———
©2015 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas)
Visit the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) at www.oaoa.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
