County takes out a loan to pay the bills for 2007
By Barry H. Hendrix Contributing Writer

The Clarke County Commission voted Tuesday to recess until Oct. 1 to pass the fiscal 2008 budget. Anne Deloise Morris, county administrator, said the budget was not yet finished.

In addition, the commission approved taking out a loan of $400,000 from Merchants Bank to replace a short fall in the 2007 budget due to the lack of tax revenue expected from the Boise Cascade mill. The interest rate is 5.27 percent.

"We know that we are going to get X-amount of dollars from Boise," commissioner Paul Bradford said Monday. "We just can't get our hands on it yet. When that comes in, this loan will be paid back. They (Boise) know they have to pay a certain amount. The court case is a dispute between what they think they ought to pay and what the state thinks they ought to pay, but there is a certain amount of money that they are going to have to pay."

(Bradford is an employee of the Boise mill.)

Morris said she is not even figuring in $500,000 in tax revenues originally expected from Boise for the 2008 budget.

"Obviously, we would be in much better shape had the (Boise) check come in," said commissioner Rhondell Rhone.

"You also have to look at the type of funds you are dealing with," said County Attorney Bruce Wilson. "This is a problem with the General Fund….We get certain monies from the state and federal government… from fees and some taxes, but they are earmarked for particular things." There is not enough money that can be used for the general fund, he said.

In other action by the commission this week, the commission approved the $1, 487, 016.30 low bid from Mobile Asphalt for the resurfacing of County Road 17 (Chilton Road) from Highway 43 to Highway 154.

• Bulk bids for fuel and pipe were awarded. Bumpers Oil of Jackson had the low bid for fuel with $433,485. The bid for pipe from Rush Enterprises of Thomasville was chosen with a 53 percent discount.

• There will be a $25,000 overrun to Mobile Asphalt on the construction of the south bound Highway 43 turn lane at the entrance to the Louisiana Pacific mill, Noble said. Workers found bad material when they got to the sub-grade level.

• The commission approved filling a vacancy for paper server. In addition, Booking Officers Llewelln Thomas and Renee Peters were put on permanent status with a 50 centper hour pay increase.

• The commission approved six-month financing ($812,683.97) in lieu of an EDA (Economic Development Administration) grant for improvements at the North Clarke Industrial Project. The loan will be refunded by the grant money within 60 days, Wilson said. Grant money may also pay the interest on the loan, he said.

Reader Comments

No comments have been posted. Be the first!

Other Stories With Comments:
Article	Comments
Taking Names and Keeping Score	1
Frances Nichols passes at 91	1
Bryant is a contestant in Ms. Senior Alabama Pageant	1
Dunagans to celebrate golden anniversary	1