County's cost savings efforts underway, more ideas discussed

The Bourbon County Courthouse is a little darker these days. On Tuesday, the day commissioners voted on a 2.955 mill levy increase in the 2017 proposed budget, custodial staff was removing half of all the fluorescent light bulbs throughout the building.

It's just one thing the county is doing to save money, but elected officials and employees have been sharing other ideas.

Several elected officials and employees attended Tuesday's commission meeting: Treasurer Rhonda Dunn, Register of Deeds Lora Holdridge, Sheriff Bill Martin, Undersheriff Ben Cole, Southeast Regional Correctional Center Major Bobby Reed, and SEKRCC Captain Alvin Metcalf Jr.

Also attending was Jeff Fischer, who will become the Second District Commissioner in January, and Nick Ruhl, candidate for the third commissioner seat.

The mill levy will increase in 2017 because, according to new legislation going into effect Jan. 1, counties and cities will not be allowed to increase their mill levies beyond the consumer price index without voter approval.

On top of that, the county's health insurance costs have increased 9 percent -- about $150,000 --in 2017. The revenue from the increased mill levy in 2017 will be held in reserve in case the county experiences the same increase in 2018.

Some cost-saving measures, like removing light bulbs, are already taking place.

The county purchases gasoline by the bulk for its vehicles. Now fleets cards are also available so sheriff's deputies and other employees who are unable to fill their vehicles at the county's bulk tank, can purchase gasoline at a discount.

The idea was discussed in July when Sheriff Bill Martin presented his budget request that included a line item for gasoline at $3 per gallon. Using the county's bulk fuel to save money had been suggested to him a year ago, but in July, Martin told commissioners his officers were buying fuel at local convenience stores because he wants to support the community.

In July, Dunn said after the first discussion in 2015, she made an attempt to obtain a fleet card. But the county had bad credit with the company she contacted due to a bad debt that was eventually paid. The company required a letter of credit from a bank or a cash deposit. She was advised by a bank to not do either.

On Tuesday, Dunn reported fleet cards are now available. For the first six months, the county will save 33.3 cents per gallon from the pump price. She estimated it will save the sheriff's office, which uses about 2,400 gallons per month, about $5,000 for the first year.

In addition to the discount, the county will not pay federal taxes, a minimum savings of 18.3 cents with possibly an additional 2 cents savings, she said. The county does not pay taxes on its bulk fuel.

The card will provide a detailed record, including who is purchasing gas and the mileage on the vehicle. If gasoline is obtained from the county's tank, all of that information will have to be recorded manually, Dunn said. Dunn said the county would have to research whether it is cost effective to have someone track the information manually or transition to a card system for all county fuel needs.

Dunn said the county could also go back through its records to file for a federal refund for taxes paid in past years, but that would be a time consuming manual search.

Offices signed up to use the fleet card are the sheriff's office, SEKRCC, appraiser's office, emergency management and local emergency planning commission. Dunn recommended obtaining an extra card for anyone else who plans to travel on county business.

The fleet card is through Phillips 66, but Dunn said she has contacted the two locally owned gas stations to see if they could also provide a similar service.

Fees for services

Commissioners have discussed increases fees for services. However, Commission Chair Barbara Albright said that won't generate a lot of additional revenue. The only additional revenue in the 2017 budget will be a $3 administrative fee for vehicle registrations, which is expected to generate an additional $60,000.

Holdridge is experiencing new legislation that reduces revenue from mortgage tax. At the same time, filing fees are increasing, but she said she doesn't know if the two will balance.

In the past, Dunn has discussed the idea of the county taking over the driver's license services. Currently, the state rents the office space from the county. The license office is open Tuesdays and Fridays and depending on staffing, there often is a waiting line.

"We could add a fee on it for the convenience of going through Bourbon County and that would be revenue," Dunn said.

The additional revenue would go into motor vehicle fund, then into the general fund, she said. However, she admitted she is questioning whether her office could handle the additional workload if there is a reduction in staff in future fiscal years.

Dunn said she planned to contact the state Tuesday to begin researching the possibility.

Change of hours

Holdridge asked about changing the county work week from five eight-hour days to four 10-hour days.

Third District Harold Coleman said it can't be done because the district court, managed by the state, is located on the third floor.