Bowie County offices make budget requests for 2016-17 fiscal year

NEW BOSTON, Texas-Knowing that economic conditions are still lean for Bowie County, most county officials kept their next fiscal year budget year (2016-17) requests limited to what they received this year during budget hearings Thursday.

As one of the largest budgeted offices, the Bowie County Sheriff's Office not only sought the same $3.2 million it has this year, but also a $351,556 restoration of funds for additional necessities, such as four patrol deputy positions cut in 2014 (with annual salaries of slightly more than $37,000 a piece), along with one investigator position, also cut in 2014 ( a position that pays slightly more than $41,400 annually).

Besides these five positions, the sheriff's office requested restoration of the 15 percent salary cut all county employees experienced in 2014.

"We also request that we receive whatever cost-of- living raise that is (usually) given to all other county employees for 2017 as well," the sheriff's office budget request stated.

Bowie County's Agricultural Extension Office asked for a $106,511 annual budget for next year, which also included a request to restore the office's secretary-office manager position ($30,000 annual salary) cut in 2014.

"As county extension agents, we operate a lot out of the office and we need someone in the office to assist clients and take calls," said Cherrie Curtis, the county's 4-H Youth Development agent.

Bowie County District Clerk Billie Fox asked for an additional $25,000 in order to hire an additional employee, but apart from that, she kept her overall request down to the same $686,678 she received for this year.

Bowie County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, Place 1 Nancy Talley asked for $165,597 for next year-a slight $4,000 more then she received this year, while Bowie County Elections Administrator George Stegall requested the same $229,029 he received this year-but he added that the county will soon need updated electronic voting equipment.

Bowie County Veterans Service Officer Ken Kunkle asked for $53,676 for next year-slightly more than $1,000 above what he received this year-mainly because he sees military veterans needing aid not only from Bowie, but also from Titus and Red River counties in addition to veterans from both Miller and Little River counties in Arkansas.

Bowie County Treasurer Donna Burns asked for the same $144,086 she received this year, while Bowie County Clerk Tina Petty asked for the same $300,324 she received this year.

Following the hearings, Bowie County Judge James Carlow said the hearings will help both him and the commissioners decide on the overall county budget's final outcome.

"We've got to be sure of where we are before we start any work on this for next year," he said.

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