COMMISSIONERS COURT TO TAKE UP DISTRICT BUDGET

LOCAL NEWS

DATE: 1 8 10

TUESDAY THE LIBERTY COUNTY COMMISSIONER WILL HOLD THEIR FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW YEAR. ON THE AGENDA IS AN ITEM CALLING FOR AN INQUIRY IN TO THE DISTRICT COURT PERSONNEL SALARY AND EXPENSES AND APPROPRIATE ACTION. IT WAS SEPTEMBER WHEN SALARIES AND EXPENSES FOR THE STAFF OF THE 253^RD DISTRICT COURT OF JUDGE CHAP CAIN CAME BEFORE COMMISSIONERS COURT RESULTING IN SOME HEATED DEBATE. COUNTY JUDGE PHIL FITZGERALD SUBMITTED A BUDGET AT THE TIME THAT ACCORDING TO DISTRICT JUDGE CHAP CAIN, CUT THE SALARY OF HIS BAILIFF BY ABOUT $10,000. AT THAT SEPTEMBER MEETING, WHILE ADDRESSING DISTRICT JUDGE CAINS CONCERNS ON THE BAILIFFS SALARY, JUDGE FITZGERALD SAID THAT SALARY WAS NOT CUT AT ALL. A PORTION OF THE MONEY WAS SIMPLY MOVED TO ANOTHER BUDGET LINE ITEM, THAT BEING IN THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT BUDGET. ALL COURT BAILIFFS ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE SHERIFF. AT THE END OF A HEATED DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE TWO ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE ITEM WAS AMENDED BY THE LIBERTY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO SET THE BUDGET OF THE OFFICE OF 253 DISTRICT JUDGE CHAP CAIN BACK AT THE LEVEL OF THAT FISCAL YEAR SET TO END SEPTEMBER 30^TH. COMMISSIONERS APPROVED THE AMENDED BUDGET UNANIMOUSLY WITH THE PROVISION OF RESEARCH TO DISCOVER EXACTLY WHO PAYS WHAT. NOW THAT ISSUE HAS COME BACK UP AGAIN. THE 253^RD DISTRICT COURT SERVES BOTH CHAMBERS AND LIBERTY COUNTY AND AS SUCH RECEIVES A PORTION OF IT’S OPERATING BUDGET FROM EACH COUNTY. THE LIBERTY COUNTY FISCAL YEAR STARTED THIS PAST OCTOBER 1, WHILE THE CHAMBERS COUNTY FISCAL YEAR STARTS JANUARY 1. LIBERTY COUNTY JUDGE PHIL FITZGERALD, WHO ASKED THIS ITEM BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA, SAID NOW COMMISSIONERS, CAN REALLY LOOK AT THE TWO BUDGETS AND SEE WHO IS PAYING WHAT IN REGARDS TO THE 253^RD DISTRICT COURT. AGAIN, NO CHANGES IN THE SALARIES ARE PLANNED JUST AN ACCOUNTING PROCEDURE FOR BUDGETING PURPOSES.