Carbon County Commissioners spent the first 45 minutes of a public hearing on the 2017 revised budget, and the 2018 proposed budget educating the public on the budget process, and dispelling myths and rumors about salaries and benefits for county employees and elected officials.
Using a slide show presentation, information on pay and benefit packages for county commissioners, judges and others was proffered and compared to other counties in Eastern Utah.
In discussing health care and the state retirement system, Commission Chairman Jae Potter said the county does not continue to pay into that when an employee or elected official leaves. “There has been much conversation that we have benefits for life. I’m not sure what that was meant to be, but I really do believe that any reference to that is a fairy tale.”
In addressing the rumor that commissioners have given themselves a big pay raise, Potter noted that all employees received a three percent cost-of-living adjustment in 2012 and again in 2017, but there is no COLA built into the 2018 budget.
Changes to the 2018 budget were outlined, including the consolidation of departments and the elimination of 13 positions. The information is available on the Carbon County website, carbon.utah.gov. The commission has declined to release the names of the employees who were laid off. Commissioner Potter emphasized, “Just because those positions went away, it didn’t mean that the work that they were doing wasn’t important.”
Agenda items for the regular commission meeting were taken care of in less than an hour and included approval of next year’s commission meeting schedule, adoption of the Carbon County Resource Management Plan as an ordinance and approval of an inter-local agreement regarding funds for the senior center.
During the regular meeting, the commissioners also approved a motion to decline to impose the 2018 tax levy increases, rendering further public comment moot. The motion was made by Commissioner Jake Mellor who said, “We first went to the public with the idea of what it would take if we did a tax increase to continue the services as they are. The response overwhelmingly has been in opposition to solving the issue through a tax increase.”
Commissioners also rescinded a resolution to withdraw from the Southeastern Utah Health District. Citing conflicts and issues with Grand County, the resolution was approved in September and would have become effective December 31.
The commission showcased the training county employees and elected officials receive on the Open Public Meetings Act through a lengthy presentation from Deputy County Attorney Christian Bryner, and then adjourned for a recess before the start of the consolidated public hearings.
Three public hearings were scheduled to follow the regular commission meeting: one for the amended 2017 budget, one for the proposed 2018 budget and another for a proposed property tax increase for the County Assessing & Collecting levy and Municipal Service Funds.
After reconvening, Commission Chairman Jae Potter said there were some housekeeping items to take care of before the hearings commenced. He referred to a letter received from the Office of the State Auditor after that agency reviewed Carbon County budgetary and accounting practices. The letter, which has been made available to the public, contains an economic analysis and several recommendations.
Attention was turned to Carbon County Recreation Director Frank Ori, who suffered a stroke December 3. Ori was characterized as “an amazing guy,” who does the work of four or five employees. Commissioner Potter said, “If you pray, pray for him and a speedy recovery. If you have financial resources, there are a number of ways that have been set up in the community that you can help him and his family.” Potter said visitation at the hospital is limited, and cards and letters may be a more appropriate way to express concern and support.
Potter then took a personal privilege to speak about civility, likely prompted by the stinging rebuke during the November 14 hearing on the proposed tax levy increases. He implied that some citizens who made comments during that public hearing may have missed civics lessons in high school, and recommended they read a book on civility and decent behavior written by George Washington at age 14.
“Tonight, I’m not particularly interested in how you feel. What I want from you is to tell me what you think,” he continued, adding, “What I really want is for you to give evidence, facts and your thoughts.”
A half-dozen people stepped up to provide comment and suggest ways the county could cut spending to balance the 2018 budget, and one poignant request was made: don’t lay anyone off until after the holidays.
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