Marion County Commissioners continued the work of looking after their investment in county buildings by approving a contact with S&W Filter Service to change the air conditioner filters in all county owned buildings every 8 weeks.
The service will cost the county $626 per time, but ensures basic maintenance is performed on the units. Commissioners had tabled the contract last meeting to have additional buildings added.
“There are approximately 80 filters at the various buildings,” said Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur.
“Let me motion to do this before the price goes up,” said Commissioner Pct. 1 J.R. Ashley.
Commissioners also asked Mechanical Concepts to bring them a multi-year bid proposal on maintenance on the newly installed HVAC systems in the courthouse. They requested a 5-year contract so they could save an estimated 10% per year.
The Court also approved renewing a 5-year contract with i3Bearcat Collection services to assist with the collection of fines for the JP courts. I3-Bearcat is paid a percentage of what they collect based on the age of the debt, with the county collecting between 70-80% of the total fee.
Moody Road has been extended in name only, replacing Woody’s Camp Road in Pct 4. This is to help correct 911 mapping issues in the county.
Tax Assessor Collector Karen Jones was tasked with calculating the county tax rates again this year and she presented the Court with the 2021 certified collection rate of 101.95%.
“Yes, collections stayed up, even though we were going through the pandemic,” said Jones. “A lot of stimulus money came our way.”
Budget wise, Commissioners are investigating the possibility of partially funding a higher deductible for county employees. Through the proposal, the employees could have a $3,000 deductible, but a special fund established would reimburse employees up to $1,000. The idea was proposed by TAC as an alternative to help save the county money in the long run.
Commissioners asked the auditor and treasurer to look into it and report back at the next budget workshop.
Commissioners are also considering a 3 percent raise for all county employees next year. Auditor Shanna Solomon is preparing budget examples with these new calculations.
Lastly, a raise for retirees is also being considered. According to Solomon, the last time county retirees or their beneficiaries received a cost of living adjustment was in 2009. Next year commissioners are considering using the Consumer Price Index adjustment formula to be able to provide a larger increase since it has been so long since one was done.
There are approximately 50 retirees or beneficiaries currently in the county system.
Commissioners will meet next at 9 a.m. Thursday, August 5 for another budget workshop.