[Editor's Note: This is part 5 of the multi-part series of articles on the County Commission meetings of May 14 and 16, 2019. This is a discussion on the preliminary budget.]

By Mary Alice Murphy, using notes taken by A.J. Ward

As the Grant County Commission work session of May 14, 2018 continued, County Financial Officer Linda Vasquez presented the recommended preliminary budget.

"I will recap the preliminary budgeted I submitted to you," Vasquez said. "You will see two columns—one is the recommended budget and the second is the requests for the budget. We expect a slight increase in gross receipts taxes and have factored in a 3 percent inflation in costs. We had a decrease in copper production receipts and anticipate the same next year. The majority of the requests for increases were for pay. We did put in a 10 percent increase in insurance with workers comp and a 7 percent increase in group health insurance costs. We put in $60,000 for anticipated grant match costs for proposed projects. There is $40,000 for planning at the Shooting Range and $35,000 for a drainage study in Wind Canyon; $500 for GIS training and $12,000 for time clocks, for the clocks, the implementation and the maintenance for the first year. We will order four—one for the Road Department, one for the Detention Center, one for the Sheriff's Department and one in the main lobby here. The clocks will benefit all departments. We also have $300,000 to purchase dump trucks and are potentially looking at a lease/purchase agreement for them."

Chairman Chris Ponce asked if something was set aside for the Clerk's Office for elections, with all the upcoming changes.

County Manager Charlene Webb said, no, because the clerk had a position that had been vacant "even since I arrived. Now she is fully staffed. We have had conversations about maybe needing more to revamp the election process, but the bill is more than 400 pages long. Clerks statewide and the Secretary of State are all working through it. They are attending training."

Ponce said he was glad it was being discussed.

Vasquez said the Road Department will this fiscal year have paid off the debt for the front-end loader and chip spreader that had been purchased in prior years. "That will give the department an additional $131,000 that can be used toward future payments on the lease/purchase."

Commissioner Alicia Edwards asked how much a dump truck cost.

Road Department Superintendent Earl Moore said about $204,000, because they would also have to purchase new salt spreaders, as the ones they have would not be compatible with new dump trucks. "Our trucks are 22 years old, but we will look at auction and try to get top dollar for them."

Edwards also asked if the department had a replacement plan.

"Yes, but we need funding to implement the plan," Moore said.

Commissioner Harry Browne said it would behoove the county to stagger the ages of their trucks by having a replacement plant. "It would be superior to having to buy three at the same time."

"I agree," Moore said. "It is a big hit to the budget. The problem we’re having with the old trucks is that we can't find parts. We are having trouble making the lights work and the computer boards are a problem. Gauges aren't working. We are looking at better trucks, too—Kenworth."

Vasquez said a change to the budget will be that instead of paying the medical services for inmates at the jail out of the Indigent Fund, "we will transfer the money to the Corrections Fund."

Webb said it makes the process clearer and more transparent. "Even though inmates, by definition, are indigent, we will leave the indigent funding in for the Gila Regional claims and indigent burials. If the money is in the Corrections Fund, we will have better tracking. Costs of medical care of inmates at the hospital and for the ambulance, as well as dental costs, will still come out of indigent funds."

Browne had a concern about underspending the indigent fund. Webb said it was possible, but the county does not have to spend it all in the year of funding. It can be carried over.

Vasquez said included in the budget is a pay increase for Sheriff's deputies. "The department has 10 vacancies and pay is not competitive with other agencies."

Webb said the increase is part of a step plan in three-year increments. "We estimate it will be about the same cost next year. We looked at six options. This created the least amount of financial impact annually."

Ponce asked how much the department is saving with the vacancies.

Webb said, in reality, it wasn't a savings, because of the amount that had to be paid out in overtime.

Commission Javier Salas asked: "If the sheriff decides he will just take the amount and spread it around to his current staff, is he at liberty to do that?"

Vasquez said no, if the step plan is adopted.

Browne said he saw it as a question of authority. "Does the sheriff have the authority to use the dollars for in-house increases?"

"We have not allowed that," Webb said. "We budgeted for the number of positions and the authority belongs to you, the Commission."

She also noted that wages are bound by the union contract, and it is illegal to give bonuses.

Salas asked Sheriff Frank Gomez if he was firm in his number of vacancies.

"Yes, that is a firm number," Gomez said. "That is our priority."

Treasurer Steve Armendariz asked if the step plan was only for the Sheriff's Department. "A year and a half ago, I requested increases and was told it had to go through the union. I asked for classifications and was told in two years it would go again for review with a new union contract. I've submitted reclassified positions. Whatever I can do. I spoke to the union president. I have all respect for the Sheriff's Department, but all other departments have needs, too."

He said a survey of county departments was requested so as to compare apples to apples, but he had not seen the results.

Ponce said he, too, had questions. "We approve the budget and the manager implements it."

Webb said she would be happy to address Armendariz's concerns. "I think we have hashed them out over and over. We do have the hearing on Thursday, May 23."

Salas asked if elected officials can come to commissioners with concerns.

"Any of them can come and make requests," Vasquez said. "This is a preliminary budget. By the end of June, we will have actual figures. If the PILT (federal payment-in-lieu-of-taxes) comes in below the anticipated amount, we might have to make adjustments. And I haven't mentioned that there is also an added cost of $80,000 needed to upgrade the CAD (computer-assisted dispatch) system for Dispatch."

Webb said Regional Dispatch is upgrading its CAD and it will require the county to upgrade its law enforcement equipment, so that it is compatible with Dispatch's coming equipment.

Browne pointed out a typo in a line item, and it would lower the amount the county has.

He also said he saw the amount for the Bayard Library, which is doing wonderful things, but would also like to support all the libraries, including Gila.

Ponce said the county always seems to be catching up. "I hope this year we can look at some things to maintain. The biggest thing is to provide services to our residents. Either we pay for it now or pay down the road. It is prudent to look and see how we can set up for a better future."

Salas asked if the rates were standard. "I did see some raises."

Webb said there were no raises in the recommended budget. "We did not recommend any salary raises, because we didn't feel there was the money."

Browne asked how much a 1 percent raise would cost. Webb said they could estimate the amount and have it available at the hearing.

Gomez asked to clarify the step plan. "It is minimum, medium and maximum. It's already in place. The town of Silver City also pays 100 percent of its officers' insurance, as the county does."

Gomez said a certified deputy with experience would qualify for about $70,000 a year. "The uncertified deputies begin at $15 and change and the certified begin at $17 and change."

Turrieta said he sees inequity in the departments. "We are all on the low, medium and maximum range. We actually bring in the revenue. I'm just trying to get us little-by-little up to the mid-range."

The next article will concentrate on the review of the agenda for the regular session on Thursday, May 18, 2019.