Former County Commissioner Larry Henry said he found $304,500 in savings during his first year as Circuit Court Clerk.
Mr. Henry was among the county officials who will not have to appear before the commission at budget hearings because there is no request for an increase.
Mr. Henry, saying most of the savings were in personnel, said, “Without the cooperation of everyone in both offices, this would not have been possible.”
Mr.
Henry released his proposed budget for 2016 today along with detailed savings listed below.
PARKING COSTS PREVIOUSLY $654.42 PER MONTH
CURRENTLY $100.68 PER MONTH
SAVINGS $553.74 PER MONTH OR $6644.88 YEARLY
ADOPTED BUDGET 2015 *PROPOSED BUDGET 2016 SAVINGS
SALARIES $2,114,432 $1,969,705 $144,727
BENEFITS $1,036,991 959,849 77,142
TOTAL $3,151,423 $2,929,554 $221,869
*Eliminated 2 full time vacancies on 2016 proposed budget
Additional savings of salaries for 2016 will be the retirement of a deputy clerk with 40 years of service. A deputy clerk was already trained to assume the retiring clerk’s position. The duties of that clerk were redistributed within the office for a total salary savings of $48,586.75. Benefit savings from this retirement will be in excess of $18,683. Further reorganization is being implemented of part-time positions which will bring the total future savings of an additional $76,000.
Combined with the budgeted savings of salaries, benefits and parking, the Circuit Court Clerk will realize a total savings of $304,500 for the budget year 2016, it was stated.
Mr. Henry said, "These reductions could not have been accomplished without the teamwork of my Chief Clerks, Susan Sissom and Nancy Masterson, Assistant Chief Clerks, Sharon Daniels and Amy Neighbors, and Sheilah Watson, finance administrator.
"Under my leadership, these changes could not have been successful without the cooperation and sacrifices made from all 21 clerks in Circuit Court and 16 clerks in General Sessions Court."