TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Budget Committee Debuts Tuesday

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: March 1, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - The members of the county's new budget and finance standing committee meet for the first time Tuesday and, if the agenda is any indication, they will hit the ground running.

Several big ticket budget items are on tap, including a look at a possible modification to the county's tuition reimbursement policy.

The matter came up recently after County Administrator David Hamilton submitted a request to the board to be reimbursed $1,166.40 - the maximum allowable under the program - for his online courses from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn.

Currently, the county has five board employees enrolled in the program, which allows participants to recoup tuition costs up to the allowed limit, as long as the coursework has a direct bearing on their scope of work.

Of those five, three are pursuing a bachelor's degree, one an associate's degree and one a master's degree, according to the Hernando County Human Resources Department.

Commissioners, citing the need to cut back on expenses, referred the tuition program to the budget and finance committee.

The county paid out $191,838 in tuition reimbursement and other related costs in budget year 2007-08. So far in 2008-09, that number is $58,167.

Also on the agenda Tuesday:

• Finance Director Amy Gillis will present the results of an external audit of the county's accounting practices.

The audit, done by Purvis Gray & Company, showed one area "where there appears to be a lack of authoritative guidance or consensus" and that has to do with the county's State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program.

The program offers zero-interest rate loans for housing rehabilitation or down payment assistance to qualified applicants.

The audit recommended a better method of recording the gross receivable amounts of the program.

• Budget Director George Zoettlein will give a budget overview, which will include information on revenue shortfalls for 2009.

Commissioner Rose Rocco is chairwoman of the budget and finance committee and Commissioner Jeff Stabins is a board member.

Also on the committee are Anna Liisa Covell, John Scharch Sr. and Greg Meyers.

The public meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, at the Hernando County Government Center, 20 North Main St. in downtown Brooksville.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT