BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
8 OCTOBER 2026
Chair Commissioner Evan Baddour opened the meeting asking Commissioner Rickie Carpenter to offer a prayer and lead the pledge. He then asked for a motion to approve the agenda, and Commissioner Cathy Roberts moved for approval, and with Commissioner Steve Woods providing the second, the agenda was approved unanimously. The Chair then asked if there were any public comments and there were none. The minutes of 7 August 2026 were moved for approval by the Chair, seconded by Commissioner Matthew Hopkins, and were approved unanimously.
Register of Deeds – Register Bevin Collins provided a handout and a digital presentation showing her need to convert an existing part-time employee to a full-time employee. Current staffing of her office is 1 FT, 1 PT, and herself, she said, and noted this action would not require any additional funding. The funds are available due to budget decisions relating to county funding of a portion of county employees’ insurance which would not be necessary as budgeted with this amendment. The Register noted part of the reason for the request was based on audit recommendation to have two people available in her office at all times. Commissioner Cathy Roberts asked if another approach might be more efficient such as another PT employee with Register Collins describing her office as “the whole office turned over” and training is a factor in consideration. Motion by the Chair and seconded by Commissioner Carman Brown was made to approve sending the request forward to the full commission. Commissioner Steve Woods expressed concern about fraud, such as stealing people’s property, with Register Collins noting that being local helps to identify people who might conduct any suspicious activity and they are alert to fraud attempts. Commissioner Matthew Hopkins asked about additional cost to county’s contribution on insurance with Register Collins saying she nor the person changing from PT to FT will be using county insurance. Commissioner Gayle Jones asked about hours to be worked if FT or PT with Register Collins noting 35 hours for FT, and 29 hours for PT. With no public comments, the motion to change the PT employee to a FT employee was approved unanimously to send to the full commission. Financial Manager (FM) Beth Moore-Sumners said if amendments are within the approved Department Head’s budget that can be done internally without Commissioner approval but if salaries are amended, which is the case here, then that must be approved by the Commission.
The Chair called out the four grants shown on the agenda and asked the FM to discuss. The FM said the grants all came in this week or are carried over from previous budget year. She noted some have been approved from last year and if not completed must be moved to the current fiscal year; no new matches are required for new grant; one – the Archives grant – will go toward a salary and supplies for the time period of the grant; the Ag Park grant approved last year for $80K with an $8K match is expected to wrap up tomorrow, per County Executive (CE) Knox Vanderpool. Motion to approve all 4 grants made by Commissioner Matthew Hopkins, seconded by Commissioner Brandon Beard and after the following discussion was approved unanimously. Commissioner Cathy Roberts asked if there were any maintenance of effort issues with the FM saying she is not aware of any. Commissioner Steve Woods reminded all that when some grants expire, the county may have to pick up recurring costs afterwards.
Budget Amendments – The FM provided a handout showing amendments for Register of Deeds (discussed above); Sheriff Recruitment & Retention Grant, Archives Development Grant, RHT ADA Door Project -Health Department (additional funding from Federal through State; and ARPA Library Broadband Ready Grant, Additional Award, Amendment #2, and Drug Enforcement. Motion to approve all amendments shown on handout and discussed by the FM was made by Commissioner Rickie Carpenter, seconded by Commissioner Hopkins, and was approved unanimously. Public comments (none).
Letter and Certificate from State Comptroller of the Treasury was provided to all showing the county is in compliance on approving and providing a balanced budget for budget year 2026-2027. In New Business the FM noted some relative short-term trends (2 months) which if continued would result in being under budgeted for the Sheriff ($44K) and for the EMS ($36K) budgets for a projected total shortage of $70K – $80K for the fiscal year. Commissioner Mike Cesarini asked about trends for schools (one month data only at this time) and the FM said that too shows $115K short. The FM noted the Highway department is somewhat different in that their costs are not linear, but reflect more seasonal costs. The FM mentioned using cards has helped with cost, with Commissioner Tracy Wilburn asking is the tax automatically taken off, with the FM saying yes. The Chair asked where can the cards be used with the FM saying all stations, and discussing how important to have both a north and a south spot.
Motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Steve Woods, seconded by Commissioner Matthew Hopkins, and was approved unanimously.
ATTENDEES: Members of the Committee Chair Commissioner Evan Baddour, Other Commissioners Cathy Roberts, Brandon Beard, Rickie Carpenter, Matthew Hopkins, Steve Woods, Carman Brown Other Commissioners in attendance Caleb Savage, Tommy Pollard, Lynn Asbury, Gayle Jones, Jan Beecham, Chris Adcock, Tracy Wilburn, Mike Cesarini, Judy Pruett, Richard Kemp, James Gentry Others in attendance County Executive Knox Vanderpool, Financial Manager Beth Moore-Sumners, Shana Woodard, Waste Management Director Julie Phillips, Register Bevin Collins, Sheriff Joe Purvis and members of the public