Madison County Commission FY2009 Budget
Posted by ReactionaryThe Madison County Commission is developing the Budget for the fiscal year starting October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009.
Madison County Commission Budget Hearings are set for June 24 and 25, the mornings of both days. — Madison County Courthouse, 7th floor, Commission Boardroom.
Here’s the most recent budget posted (FY2007) at the Madison County website.
Gas, jail are big items in county budget
Commission Chairman Mike Gillespie (D) said it’s too early to know how much tax money will be available to spend in the fiscal year… The county’s General Fund budget should grow from the current $37.3 million…
The county collected $168.5 million in property taxes in 2007, up $20.2 million from the year before. Property taxes, which provide about half of the county’s operating budget, have been growing steadily since Alabama switched to yearly property reappraisals in 2003. The average annual increase has been $14.6 million.
But not all of that money goes to the County Commission. The state, local schools and the Huntsville, Madison, New Hope, Gurley, Triana and Owens Cross Roads city councils also get a cut.
Commissioner Bob Harrison (D) makes some good suggestions (note that the City of Huntsville has weekly garbage pickup):
Commissioner Bob Harrison, D-Huntsville, said the county may have to switch to weekly garbage pickup to save fuel. Now, neighborhoods in Madison and some parts of the unincorporated county get twice-weekly service… He said he also wants to talk to Alabama A&M University about making biodiesel fuel for county garbage trucks.
 UPDATE:
…The board has until Sept. 30 to adopt a budget for fiscal 2008-09… Almost every county department and agency - about 40 in all - is asking commissioners for a budget bump…
…Mental Health Center of Madison County…Â has requested $75,000 from the county, which (MHC Director) Davis said would provide 20 to 25 people with therapy for a year. (Madison County Commissioner Faye) Dyer (R) said the agency is a good deal for taxpayers, because it keeps mentally ill people from ending up in jail and hospital psychiatric wards on the public’s dime.Â
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June 24th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Wonder how many non-violent drug offenders are currently taking up space in the jail? How much money could that area save by making simple possession for personal use a lowest law enforcement priority and using ‘cite and release’ on non-violent drug offenses as opposed to ‘lock’em up til trial’ which is the way it is in most places in Alabama.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Loretta - I’m guessing about zero first-time non-violent drug offenders are in jail. They get out as soon as they make bond, then they eventually head to Drug Court (Judge Lynn Sherrod), then they go through whatever diversion program is recommended for them. The only time I’ve seen diversion-eligible people in jail is when they didn’t want the hassle (or expense) of diversion.
I’ve even seen people (rich and poor) with cocaine possession charges not go to jail.
Since drug court pays for itself, I’m thinking that no tax money would be saved by your idea.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Huntsville has for a while been more progressive about drug policy than most other places in Alabama. In rural areas where I live and work most people still go to jail for a non-violent first time drug offense. There aren’t drug courts in every county yet.
What is the main thing that people are in jail for there? Any idea? Are people there for non-violent offenses of another variety and just unable to bond out because they don’t have the money?
I met and had a long conversation with Judge Sherrod back in 2006 at the National TASC Conference. She has a good understanding of drug policy and the need for a major overhaul in that area of state law.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Loretta - I’ve got a call into the guy who knows about the jail, he should be around this afternoon. Most people in jail need to be there - violent and repeat offenders.
I think everyone’s out of pocket because of the Albarran Sentencing (illegal convicted of murdering a police officer - State seeking the death penalty).
But what about the Madison County Budget? What do you think about once-a-week vs twice-a-week garbage pickup? What do you think about Madison County road construction and pay raises for employees?
HSV is suffering a sharp increase in crime (we are #83 in the US). What about more Deputies?
June 25th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Reactionary - I’ll be real interested in hearing what you learn from your jail contact. I’m sure there are a lot of people that need to be there….but there are probably some that don’t and some that could be monitored in a less costly way.
I get by on once weekly garbage pick up and think most other folks probably can too. I don’t really have an opinion on the road projects. If I lived there the pay raise would likely irk me. There has not been a pay raise for most people in the private sector. Everything else has gone up, food, fuel, utilities but not people’s pay. If there is a pay raise for city employees then taxpayers foot that bill and right now that seems very unfair considering the economy.
How would more deputies decrease crime? Sure, more deputies means they might be able to catch more people committing crimes but adding more deputies won’t necessarily reduce crime. With the economy the way it is right now I predict there will be a huge rise in crime just about everywhere and more deputies will be added wherever money can be found to pay them.
July 8th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Loretta - sorry to take so long to reply; it was my fault - the Sheriff Lieutenant did answer questions but I was busy making briefing charts for my nieces and nephew for my trip.
The Madison County Jail has about 850 prisoners, for all types of offenses, including first-time drug offenders. The Sheriff seemed to know where your question was leading before I did - some States basically give tickets / notices to appear instead of taking them to jail. But Alabama says an offender needs to go to jail for a little while.
First-timers don’t stay very long though, most are out as soon as possible. A different source tells me about offenders who prefer jail to Drug Court (for some, jail is easier than counseling, classes, fines, testing, and monitoring).
About the economy - if Obama is elected, Huntsville is going to take a big hit - our economy depends on military spending. Things have been pretty good here under Bush.
A bad economy means that local Govt won’t have income to pay for extra popo and stuff. Vicious cycle…