Criminal Court Clerk Vince Dean on Wednesday told members of the County Commission he needs $300,000 from the county general fund "to generate revenues to cover the salaries and certain other operating costs for the clerk's office."
The former state legislator told the commission he has gotten some laws changed to help improve the office's fiscal situation and has more in mind.
One of the laws will require the state to reimburse county offices within 120 days. Mr. Dean said the state has been as far behind as 14 months in remitting funds due his office. He said the state currently owes the office $170,000.
However, Lee Brouner, assistant county finance director, said it may be a recurring problem. He said the main dilemma is that fees the office charges have not been increased by the Legislature since 2006. He said, "The only way is to have more cases, and that is not feasible."
Commissioners Tim Boyd and Joe Graham said the commission should have been notified earlier of the shortfall. Commissioner Boyd said, "In private business, if I went to my board of directors and told them I was $300,000 short, it would be Adios, Mr. Boyd. Who is next in line?"
Commissioner Graham chided the clerk about joking during his remarks to the commission. He said, "This is serious business. It is not a joking matter."
Mr. Dean said he had been waiting to try to trim the shortfall before going to the commission. He said if he had gone last November the request would have been for $500,000."
He said the office is operating with one fewer employee at a savings of some $80,000 since he defeated veteran Gwen Tidwell.
Vice Chairman Randy Fairbanks said it appeared to him that "this is not as much a Mr. Dean problem as a state problem."
Commissioner Greg Beck added, "The problem was there before Mr. Dean got there." Ms. Tidwell also went before the commission for a special appropriation.