At last week’s meeting, the commissioners along with Chief Finance Officer Pat Merritt dealt with requests and funding changes to the county’s Fiscal Year 2012 budget. The commissioners have agreed to fund half of the LOSAP to the tune of $82,000. LOSAPs, or Length of Service Award Programs, are pension-like programs intended to help recruit and retain volunteer firefighters and emergency personnel. Members are financially rewarded based upon the number of years they serve. The fire companies and rescue squad will pay for the other half of LOSAP out of their budgets. Initially the commissioners planned to cut the county’s $164,000 contribution completely, but after meeting with representatives from all six fire companies and the rescue squad, a compromise was reached.

Director of Public Works Wayne Morris requested an additional $23,000 be added to his budget to hire a full-time person for the county roads department. Originally Morris was hoping to hire an extra employee in January 2012 and had already budgeted for salary and benefits. However, the amount of work for county roads has piled up, he said, and an extra person is needed in July of this year. The total salary and benefits would be more than $30,000. The commissioners approved the request.

Bernadette Van Pelt, director of Tourism and Economic Development, also requested funding for an additional position. Van Pelt would like to see the Office of Tourism and Economic Development hire an office/project manager. Currently the office employs one administrative aide and one administrative assistant. The level of work coming in is director-level work. It is piling up in that one place. Commissioner William Pickrum said he understood Van Pelts need; he was just unsure how the county would pay for it. Van Pelt mentioned the entertainment tax coming to the county from the summer concerts scheduled at Hopkins Game Farm. Commissioners Ron Fithian and Alex Rasin were concerned that Van Pelts argument would pit department against department.

The commissioners asked Van Pelt and Human Resources Director Marty Hale to come up with a scope of work for the position and a proposed salary and benefit package. If the commissioners decide to fund the position they agreed the money could be taken out of FY 2012 contingency fund.

Merritt will present the proposed county FY2012 budget next week at 6 p.m. A hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 7 at 6 p.m. in the commissioners hearing room, 400 High Street. Merritt said copies of the county’s proposed FY2012 budget will be available on the county website, www.kentcounty.com.