MT. VERNON - Jefferson County's budget expenses are 3.7 percent below the budgeted projection, according to Jefferson County Board Chairman Robert White.
Income is .29 percent below projections as well, he said.
The county has received more than $350,000 since March 31, he said, but is still waiting to receive more than $1.2 million due from the state.
White said a large portion of the money received came after Sen. John O. Jones called on the behalf of the county after reading about its issues with Second Judicial Circuit probation reimbursements in local newspapers.
"It was not requested and was not known until he called to let me know that the payment is on the way," White said. "Jefferson County will be missing Senator Jones after the upcoming elections."
White said the county has stood its ground with the probation payroll agreement with Franklin County, which he said keeps Jefferson County from ever getting past three months in arrears.
"Whether the (Second) Judicial Circuit will supplement the extension of any amount over three months is up to them," White said. "We are firm in our resolve to maintain this arrangement and will mitigate these outstanding balances moving forward."
He said though standing firm on the payroll doesn't address the other line items in arrears from the state, but said he believes they will help moving forward.
Jefferson County Treasurer Dan Knox is holding the other 11 counties in the Second Judicial Circuit to a promise that they will not get "too far behind" in reimbursing Jefferson County for probation salaries.
"As a whole, we do not generally get over two months behind, however, there are a couple of counties that are not holding up to the agreement and we'll be monitoring them monthly as we move forward," White explained. - http://bit.ly/HZb5XM
