May 27, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Dr. Scott Little has been named to the DeKalb County Budget Committee.
County Mayor Tim Stribling announced the appointment during Tuesday night’s regular monthly county commission meeting. Dr. Little, who serves the 4th district, will succeed Dennis Slager from the 1st district who recently resigned as member and chairman of the budget committee. Slager is still a member of the county commission.
Meanwhile, 6th district commissioner Jeff Barnes, a current member of the budget committee, will now serve as its chairman.
Other members of the budget committee are Sabrina Farler, Anita Puckett, and Jerry Adcock.
The budget committee will soon be meeting with the county’s financial advisor Steve Bates to prepare a new spending plan for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
Bates has been working for the county in this role as a contracted service for several years. He was brought in during the administration of County Mayor Mike Foster and has stayed on under County Mayor Tim Stribling.
According to the budget, Bates is paid $15,000 a year for his services. In past projects, Bates has also earned a commission for his involvement in the sale of bonds on behalf of the county.
But does the county really need Bates to help prepare its annual budgets?
First district county commissioner Julie Young raised the question Tuesday night during the regular monthly meeting of the commission. Young said others could be called upon to do the same service as Bates and save the county money.
Seventh district commissioner Bruce Malone said the County Technical Advisory Service (CTAS) is available to assist the county in preparing budgets at no cost.
County Mayor Stribling explained what Bates does for the county.
“We use him as a finance person to help us do our budgets and to project ahead what we might need in revenues, expenditures, and maintenance of effort for the schools. He helps us prepare our budgets,” said Stribling.
Funds are already budgeted this year (2019-20) for Bates’ services. The county commission took no action Tuesday night.