On November 26th, 2007, I received a letter for the GOLD office explaining the $60,000.00 that the clerks office is to receive in the near future, and also where this money should be budgeted.

The letter stated as follows, For counties under 20,000 population, HB537 will provide a revenue supplement estimated to be $60,000.00 in March or April 2008 for the operation of the County Clerks office. This revenue supplement should be budgeted on line 5 of the receipt portion of the fee office budget.

I spoke to each magistrate about the 2008 budget, and had prepared 3 different budgets.

The first budget included an additional employee for the recording department, a 3% pay increase for the deputy clerks, and paying the employee share of health insurance.

The second budget included a 3% pay increase for the deputy clerks, and paying the employee share of health insurance.

The third budget included paying the employee share of health insurance.

The third budget is the one the magistrates chose, with the stipulation that if at some point we no longer receive the revenue supplement, I would no longer be able to pay the employee share of health insurance, and we would discuss at that time, what if anything could be done.

The purpose of the revenue supplement, is for the clerk to use the money for additional help in the office, to upgrade equipment, salary increases, etc.

Instead of using part of this money for equipment upgrades, I have applied for a grant which would cover the majority of the cost, therefore leaving me the extra money to pay the employee share of health insurance and also enable me to return approximately $21,000.00 to the county in additional excess fees, making the estimated total of excess fees for 2008 $249,433.15.2008

The current estimated excess fees for 2008 is $249,433.15.I would also like to address the rumors that the Judge was influential in the decision of getting the insurance paid.

There was absolutely no discussion between the Judge and the magistrates about the clerks budget, this was strictly between myself and the magistrates.

I spoke to Judge Melton about my intentions to ask for the insurance being paid, and because of the result of last years decision, her response to me was Good Luck.

I know people are aware that Ann and I worked together for 20 years, and I often have questions for her about my duties in the office.

I realize that it would be easy to assume that she would try to help me with anything that I bring before the court, but the decisions are made and voted on by the magistrates, not the Judge. Even though Ann and I are still close friends, she does not try to influence the way I run the clerks office, nor do I try to give her suggestions on how to run the judges office.

When I presented my budget in December, as Im required to do, after giving my estimated receipts, disbursements, and excess fees for the year, I asked if anyone had any questions, and that I would explain any questions asked. No one asked anything about my budget. Had anyone felt the desire to ask anything about my budget, I was very willing to answer.

In addition to the budget issues, I have had a few people question my decision on closing the office on Saturdays. I realize that people work out of town. If choose they not do their business thru the mail, or they have no one that can come in for them, all they have to do is contact the office and we will arrange someway to help them do their business.

For the last two months, we have been extremely slow on the front line.

Our receipts are down over $21,000.00 from last January. We have averaged about 10 customers on Saturdays. Hopefully the economy will improve somewhat, and this will be a temporary situation.