By CHRIS MORRIS
Chris.Morris@newsandtribune.com
September 10, 2008 11:52 am
—
Billy Stewart came looking for money, and what he got was a lesson in economics from Floyd County Council President Larry McAllister.
Stewart, the Georgetown Town Board president, on Tuesday asked the Floyd County Council for riverboat funds. In an interlocal agreement signed last year, Harrison County agreed to give Floyd County a share of riverboat funds with the hopes that Floyd would share part of the money with Georgetown and Greenville.
Stewart said in the last five years, Georgetown received $30,448 in riverboat revenue from Floyd County. Floyd County received more than $462,000 in 2007.
In 2004, Georgetown received $20,000 for new computers for the police department and in 2007, $10,000 went for the purchase of a new computer server for Town Hall. The county also contributes $4,750 in matching funds for animal control services for Georgetown.
McAllister said since the agreement does not stipulate a set percentage to give to Georgetown and Greenville, he did not want to commit a guaranteed annual amount. The other council members agreed.
They told Stewart he needs to come to them on a per-need basis.
“We are $3 million in debt. We’ll try to help you the best we can,” McAllister told Stewart. “In my 14 years here, this is the worst I’ve seen it. This is not a good time for Georgetown to ask for something we don’t have.
“Right now all we can do is keep trying.”
McAllister said when Georgetown has asked for help in the past, the county has provided a helping hand. However, he said the county is supposed to be stewards of the 2 percent it receives from Harrison County. He said the council will listen to every request from either town.
Stewart first made a request for funds at last week’s county commissioners meeting. That board referred him to the council.
“We just want our fair share,” Stewart said. “Right now, we have a lot of needs and we don’t have the money to meet those needs.”
The council does not put riverboat funds in its general budget because the amount fluctuates each year.
Councilwoman Lana Aebersold said this was the first time she remembers anyone from Georgetown asking for riverboat funds. Stewart and the other four Georgetown Town Council members are in their first year.
“We are trying to clean up some messes,” Stewart said. “This is part of us trying to get back some revenue.”
In other council business
• Sheriff Darrell Mills said he will come to the council next month and ask for $278,970 for six additional corrections officers. The amount includes Federal Insurance Contributions, health insurance and salaries.
Mills said the jail is staffed at 1994 standards. He said the jail was built with 134 beds. It now averages more than 300 inmates during the year. He said he has 39 corrections officers.
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