The Leflore County Board of Supervisors continues to mull where to cut expenses in order to stay within this year’s budget.
On Monday, the supervisors met with most of the department heads to discuss this year’s spending and where expenditures could be tightened. After about an hour, though, the deliberations ended without any clear decisions.
“This isn’t working,” District 5’s Robert Collins said.
He asked that the board meet separately to discuss the county budget further before gathering the department heads together again.
“We’ve got raises, gas, and a lot of other things we need to discuss,” District 1’s Sam Abraham said.
For the first three months of the budget year that began Oct. 1, the county’s general fund expenditures are $840,000 more than for the same period last year.
The supervisors agreed to resume their discussions over this year’s spending at 3 p.m. Feb 6, prior to their regular meeting. They plan to then invite the department heads back at the following board meeting on Feb. 13.
In other business Monday, the board:
- Approved the speed limit of the new Viking Range access road to be set at 45 mph. According to Shane Correro, county engineer, a higher speed limit would require the repositioning of street lights that have already been installed along the roadway. The road is expected to open in early February.
- Postponed the discussion of the purchase and installation of surveillance cameras within the county until further information could be gathered from local utility companies.
- Voted to approve a project proposal from Central Mississippi Inc. to fund transportation services in the county. The proposed project would focus on serving more rural areas of the county, such as Morgan City and Schlater, and carry residents to medical appointments and the grocery store, among other places.
- Tabled the approval of last year’s board minutes from Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, 12 and 27.
- Voted to approve a property tax exemption for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta.
The exemption, worth $5,593 a year, applies to the organization’s future new headquarters, located in the old Physicians and Surgeons Building at 501 W. Washington St.
- Voted to renew the county’s annual contract with Corrections Management Services for oversight of the Leflore County Adult Detention Center.
- Approved the hire of three new corrections officers at the Sheriff’s Department to fill current vacancies.
- Contact Katherine Parker at 662-581-7239 or kparker@gwcommonwealth.com.
