County officials working on budget

Donley County Commissioners were in budget negotiations this week as they try to cope with rising expenses.

Judge Jack Hall said the Commissioners Court met in regular session Monday and were reconvening in a called meeting Tuesday as the Enterprise went to press. He expected the court to finish its work that day but had another called session planned for Wednesday if needed.

On Monday, the court issued a memo to all county offices asking them to make no further non-mandatory expenditures – including travel, overtime, and supplies – for the current fiscal year which ends September 30.

“We’re in good shape and want to finish in good shape,” Hall said. “We have two months to go, and every bill has gone up just like everyone else.”

In addition to the usual increasing expenses, such as fuel and health insurance, commissioners are still coping with the expense of trying convicted child murderer Robert Babcock.

That case cost the county about $57,000 in the last fiscal year, and Hall said more expenses could still trickle in. In the coming year, the county is setting aside another $50,000 in case Babcock files an appeal.

Hall said state mandated expenses are also hurting the county, and he specifically pointed to about $37,000 Donley County spent on indigent legal defense expenses in addition to the Babcock case where only $30,000 was budgeted.

Commissioners are considering a “slight increase” in taxes, have eliminated one part-time position in the clerk’s office, and are not planning on any raises for county employees this year.