Murphy – The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners seemingly channeled Oprah Winfrey at its May 6 meeting – giving out several vehicles to county agencies, even to the sheriff’s office, whose request for a replacement sports utility vehicle in April was denied.
The board approved spending $71,800 to replace two high-mileage 2008 Chevrolet Colorados, one for the 911 addressing office and one for the tax assessor’s office. The board also approved a Ford Explorer costing $42,350 for the sheriff.
In April, Sheriff Dustin Smith asked to spend $75,361 to buy a 2024 Ford Expedition (the price includes up fitting the vehicle for sheriff’s office use). It would replace a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe with over 64,000 miles on its odometer.
Smith would use the new vehicle and hand his old vehicle over for his chief deputy’s use. Funds would come from fees the sheriff collects for services like conceal/carry permits.
In April, Commissioner Dan Eichenbaum made a motion for the sheriff’s request to be tabled until the board completes its new budget but withdrew the motion amid a new motion to approve the expense. That motion lost on a split vote of the board.
Commissioner Ben Adams, who along with board Chair Randy Phillips supported the sheriff’s request in April, suggested that approval of the new vehicles for the 911 addressing office and tax assessors office be postponed, just like Smith’s proposal was.
“If we do it for one, we should do it for all,” Adams said.
The board instead approved all three vehicles.
The two Chevrolet Colorados are 4x4 crew cab vehicles ordered under state contract, which saved the county $8,200 off the combined sticker prices. For delivery in August, the county had to make the purchase this month.
The old 911 addressing Colorado will be transferred to 911 dispatch to travel to service radio tower sites, saving an additional $35,000 from the 2024-25 budget.
Budget planning
Purchase of the vehicles saves the county about $28,000 as the county enters its budget planning period.
County commissioners are holding a series of budget workshops leading into the budget hearing scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday in Room 342 of the Cherokee County Courthouse downtown to receive public input on the Cherokee County Manager’s recommended budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
County Manager Randy Wiggins submitted his recommended budget to the board on May 6.
In his summary, Wiggins said the proposed budget keeps the property tax millage rate at 61 cents and has no fee increases except to GIS Mapping service fees. The budget includes a 2 percent cost-of-living raise for county workers.
Public comments can also be submitted via email to maria.hass@cherokeecounty-nc.gov, or hand-delivered to the Clerk to the Board at 75 Peachtree St., Suite 211. Comments should be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Monday.
Copies of the budget are available for public inspection in the Cherokee County Manager’s Office as well as on the county’s website at cherokeecounty-nc.gov/186/Annual-Adopted-Budget-Ordinances.