County rejects city’s request for more funding

With tight budgets ahead, both Jackson County administration and the City of Marianna are looking closely at the money they spend, as well as opportunities for more funding.

The Board of County Commissioners and Marianna City Commission are negotiating its interlocal agreement for fire and EMS services.

On Thursday,  BOCC rejected the city’s request for the county to pay a $40,000 increase in the contract.

The interlocal agreement consists of the county contracting the city to provide fire and EMS services up to five miles outside of the city’s limits.

Areas covered under the agreement include Indian Springs and Country Club Hills.

The current contract is slated to expire on October 1.

“The agreement has been for $10,000 for a number of years. Last year they requested $20,000 and we agreed. Now they’re requesting $60,000 and I guess it’s just too much,” said Ted Lakey, county administrator.

City manager Jim Dean said that, as of Friday, the city hadn’t received official word of the rejected proposal, and he could not comment on behalf of the city commissioners.

Dean said the negotiations are typical at this time of year, when most municipalities are in the budgeting process.

“The short version is that we went through the process of discerning what services were provided and we basically asked the county, in considering that amount of service, for additional funds above and beyond what we have asked in the past,” said Dean.

Dean said that the $60,000 wouldn’t cover the entire expense of the service, but that it would mitigate those expenses.

He said the reason for the increase in needed funds is evident in most people’s personal budgets.

“The cost of electricity is almost doubled and the cost of fuel is significantly more than last year, as well as other costs,” said Dean.

In a letter presented to the county, the city listed services included in the agreement. The statement following is part of that letter:

“In addition to fire and EMS provided by the City of Marianna, the fire department provides two full-time staffed fire departments and certified emergency medical technicians; free air refills of SCBA breathing systems to all county volunteer fire departments as well as Jackson County Fire Rescue. The City of Marianna also provides a 55-foot aerial apparatus to any rescue or fire station by request of the county. The City of Marianna Fire Rescue also provides vehicle extrication along Interstate 10.”

“County residents are enjoying the benefits that are made available to them by the interlocal agreement and we’re trying to transfer some of the expense that the city has back to the county,” said Dean.

Dean could not say whether there was a chance of the agreement being dropped once it expires.

“Hopefully, before that happened, we would sit down and discuss all the issues and what their concerns are,” said Lakey.