Floyd County to discuss SPLOST, jail issues at daylong retreat at Cave Spring Community Center

The Latest Local News from the Rome News

It all comes down to money.

Floyd County employees’ pay, issues with fire safety at the jail and ongoing special purpose, local option sales tax projects all require cash. All three topics are up for discussion at the Floyd County Commission’s Friday retreat.

Commissioners will gather in Cave Spring Friday morning for breakfast before starting their discussions about 9 or 10 a.m. at the Community Center, (map ) behind Fannin Hall on the old campus of the Georgia School for the Deaf.

Commissioner Rhonda Wallace expects the board will prioritize its SPLOST projects at the daylong retreat.

“With the new findings at the jail, that’s No. 1 on our list,” she said.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office this month ordered jail and county officials to create a plan of action by April 10 that details how problems with the facility’s fire suppression system would be resolved.

Commissioner Scotty Hancock wants to focus on the new animal shelter, a $5.7 million SPLOST project approved in November 2013 by voters. Salaries for public safety employees and retention issues also are high on his list.

“We keep losing officers,” Hancock said. “We’ve got to figure out how to pay them.”

Sheriff Tim Burkhalter threatened last month to file suit against the county, claiming it has failed to provide him enough funds to properly staff the jail. Burkhalter initially said he wanted the commission to pay for an attorney before the suit was filed, though County Attorney Tommy Manning said in a letter the board wouldn’t pay at this time.

No suit had been filed by Friday.

Wallace said commissioners would discuss the needs of the sheriff and other departments.

“I think there’s lots of needs out there,” she added.

Paying for those needs is another issue. Both Wallace and Hancock want to discuss sales tax revenue and a leaner county organization before broaching any talk of higher taxes.

“If it comes down to raising the millage rate, I think that’s something we need to talk about,” Wallace said, quickly adding, “I’m not saying we’re going to do it.”

Source: Rome News

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