By John Estridge
COVID-19 has negatively affected many different aspects of life in 2020.
Franklin County Sheriff Peter Cates told Franklin County Council members about how it has negatively affected his budget, and why he now needs an additional appropriation into his budget.
Council tabled Cates’ additional appropriation request at the May meeting so he came to the June council meeting, Tuesday night, June 23, and he explained his need for the extra money.
Cates was requesting $25,500. Cates was supposed to receive three new vehicles in 2019 and another three vehicles this year. However, his 2019 vehicles came in late, and they were all white vehicles. Cates had ordered black so he did not take delivery of the vehicles. The dealership he worked through did not make good on his order so he had to seek another dealer.
Then came the coronavirus and the ensuing nationwide shutdown, which included Ford factories. Cates did receive one vehicle, which another sheriff’s department received and did not want. That leaves him five new vehicles short, meaning his current vehicles are old and breaking down.
Among his repairs this year have been a transmission replacement and a motor replacement as well as other expensive fixes. He started 2020 with $26,500 in parts and $16,000 in labor. Now, he is down to $1,926 in parts and $3,957 in labor. There are still six months to go in the budget year. While he should get his new vehicles soon, he will have to have mandatory equipment placed on the new cars, which could more than deplete what he has remaining, he said. Also, some of the older vehicles could break down.
Cates asked for $20,500 in additional money for parts and $5,000 for labor. He said any money he has left over in those accounts at the end of the budget year, he will turn back over to the county.
FCC President Jeff Koch said he understood Cates’ situation; however, once Franklin County receives its shipment of new vehicles, the sheriff’s department will have a good fleet, probably the best fleet the county has ever had. Cates agreed.
“Hopefully, in six months, we will have five new vehicles,” Cates said.
Council member Scott McDonough said the county received $750,000 in COVID-19 money. However, county auditor Karla Bauman cautioned the money from the COVID-19 is reimbursement only and not everything will be allowed under its stringent rules.
Koch agreed, saying the county should not count on that money. Some council members and other county officials met the day after the council meeting with state officials and the county’s Emergency Management Agency to learn the ins and outs of using that money. Cates also cautioned, while the COVID-19 played into the problem, it was not the only cause.
According to Koch, since the vehicles were delayed, meaning they will not have many miles on them, council could cut some funding in the 2021 budget for new vehicles.
However, council member Glen Bischoff said council could not leave Cates empty handed while he is waiting for the new vehicles. Council member Joe Gillespie said he agreed with Bischoff.
After several more minutes of conversation, council decided to take $10,000 out of County Council Contingency Fund and put in Cates’ funds, which were in need of more money. Cates said if he needs more than $10,000, he knows where they meet, and he will return.
Also, if Cates needs more money in one of the two funds and less money in the other, he can handle it with a transfer.
Council unanimously passed the additional appropriation. Bauman said, for bookkeeping purposes, taking it from the Contingency Fund will mean a reduction so council will have to do that at the next meeting.