VIENNA – Dooly County Commissioners voted at their meeting Thursday morning to furlough county employees one day in each of the months of November, December and January.

Constitutional officers which include the sheriff, tax commissioner, clerk of superior court, probate court judge and coroner, however, cannot be required to take the furlough days. They must do so voluntarily. All other county employees will be affected by the action. County Administrator Steve Sanders informed Commissioners that the furloughs will save the county approximately $18,000 per day.

Commissioner Charles Anderson made the motion that the non-paid days be designated as Nov. 26, Dec. 24 and Jan. 18, all of which are holidays. Sanders had suggested that the board consider non-paid holidays in an effort to disrupt county operations as little as possible. The county attorney confirmed that it is legal for non-paid holidays to be taken in lieu of furloughs.

Commissioners A. C. Daniels and Harry Ward voted with Anderson. Commissioner Terrell Hudson voted against the furloughs saying, “I think we have opportunities to reduce the budget in areas other than employee salaries. Furloughs should be a last resort.” Commissioner David Barron abstained.

Before making the motion, Anderson said, “I know it will be tough on employees, but I see no other way to get out of this situation.

Sanders had informed Commissioners that the county will end the year with at least a $250,000 deficit. Revenue did not come in as projected during fiscal year 2009 which ended Sept. 30, and Anderson said he fears that 2010 won’t be a whole lot better.

“I don’t want to be looking at a million dollar debt next year,” he said.

Sanders presented a financial report which indicated that expenditures for fiscal year 2009 had come in $440,000 over revenues.

In an Oct. 8 meeting, Commissioners had set the total millage rate for the new year at 32.832 mills for the county and the Board of Education. This is the same rate as last year. Sanders reported that the state has found the county’s 2009 ad valorem tax digest in order, and tax bills should be mailed next week.

Even though there is no tax increase either from the county or the Board of Education, homeowners will see about a $200 increase in their tax bills over last year. The reason for that, Sanders explained, is that the state will not be providing homestead grants that have been awarded to counties for the past several years.

In other business, Commissioners:

• Asked Sanders to work with Public Works Director Tommy Watson and his acting assistant, Wayne Lamb to put in writing exactly what kind of trash the solid waste department personnel will pick up at no additional charge to customers.

Then they will develop a schedule of charges for special pickups such as white goods, furniture, heavy yard waste, etc.

This action was prompted by a request from the city of Vienna that the county begin handling all the trash pickup within the city.

• Decided to look into the possibility of the Dooly State Prison providing meal service for the county jail before accepting any of the three bids that they have received from private vendors.

Sheriff Van Peavy was unable to meet with the county officials Thursday, and they also wanted to talk with him before making any decision.

• Authorized Zoning Administrator Gary Houston to supervise county employees in some repair work on the Courthouse roof.

Houston said there are at least nine leaks around chimneys. For about $10,000, he says the flashing can be covered with a substance that should stop the leaks. He will have to lease a 120 foot lift to get workers up to the areas where they will be working, he said.

They cannot walk on the roof because it’s made of slate, and there’s the danger that the slate will crack.

• Approved the extension of a contract with CorrectHealth Dooly LLC which is providing inmate medical services at the Dooly County Justice Center. The providers will get a 2.7% increase in the fee for their services. Their monthly charge will escalate from $22,181 to $22,780.

• Authorized Sanders to borrow up to $250,000. He said the county already has borrowed a total of $1 million this year.