An amendment to Pickens’ Budget may be possible in the future.In a nearly empty conference room Thursday morning, December 29th, Pickens County Commissioner Robert Jones approved the adoption of the 2012 Budget. The meeting was the second budget hearing and likely the final one of the year.

On Thursday, December 15th, the County held the first public hearing to introduce the proposed 2012 Budget, giving the public an opportunity to review it and ask questions it may have about County allocation of taxpayers’ money. Chief Financial Officer Mechelle Champion explained that next year’s proposed budget reflects a decrease in revenues. Revenues went from $21,886,771 in 2011 to $19,313,490 in the proposed 2012 Budget. On the expenditures side, Champion said that the County tried to hold the departments down to a one percent increase, which, along with other efforts resulted in a balanced budget. Notably, she also mentioned an increase in Elections, which, of course is due to the series of upcoming 2012 Elections, including the Presidential Election. In 2012, Pickens County will also have an opportunity to vote for two new commissioner posts when the County goes to a new three-member commission board next year.

“Nothing has changed since we issued the preliminary numbers a few weeks ago,”

Jones said at the December 29th meeting. Jones then signed the approval of the budget. The move, though, does not mean future amendments can not or will not be made to County finances.

During a November 8th Tri-County meeting in Ellijay, Pickens, Gilmer, and Fannin Counties decided to move a part of the Public Defenders’ Benefits from State Benefits to County Benefits. According to Champion and Fannin County Clerk Rita Kirby, the agreement is settled. However, in a recent correspondence with FYN, Public Defender Standards Council Executive Director W. Travis Sakrison stated, “We are continuing discussions with Fannin, Gilmer and Pickens Counties in the hopes of reaching a solution.” And, according to Gilmer County Commission Chairman J.C. Sanford, no contract has been signed yet.

Appalachian Circuit Public Defender Mike Parham told FYN that he felt it is the wrong decision to make; the move from State to County Benefits negatively affects employees’ retirement plans.

On December 29th, Champion told FYN that Pickens County was meeting with Gilmer and Fannin Counties that day to further discuss the Public Defenders’ Budget. If Sakrison’s office can convince the three counties to change their minds about changing to County Benefits, then an amendment to Pickens’ Budget may be possible in the future. The consensus among the Counties, though, is that they can not afford to pay state benefits, which does not bode well for the Sakrison camp.