The Caldwell County Fiscal Court moved forward with the proposed 2027 jail budget, which includes a staff pay raise and will be presented along with the county budget for approval on May 1st.
At a special-called meeting Friday morning, Judge-Executive Kota Young expressed his appreciation to Sheriff Don Weedman and Jail Administrator Angela Cotton for their efforts on a solid budget that he said makes “excellent investments” in the future of the jail and its staff.
Sheriff Weedman presented the proposed budget to magistrates and noted that jail salaries are significantly behind other counties, and recommended a $2.50 an hour pay increase.
He added that salaries make up the largest expense in the proposed budget, with only minimal increases planned for other areas.
click to download audioYoung pointed out that the proposed changes would raise jail expenditures by $146,000 compared to last year’s budget, and added that it’s an increase the Fiscal Court can manage.
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The magistrates unanimously approved receiving the proposed jail budget, while District 4 Magistrate Jeff Simms was absent from the meeting. For clarification, Judge Young explained that the Fiscal Court only received the budget on Friday, and he will include it in the broader county budget when he presents it for approval on May 1st.
In other new business, Judge Young introduced a resolution to apply for a grant to fund rubber-modified asphalt on a county road.
click to download audioHe said that the county is requesting $163,800 to pave about half of Carner Hill Road with rubber-modified asphalt, while the rest would be paved with standard asphalt.
click to download audioThe resolution to apply for the grant was unanimously approved.
The next regular meeting of the Caldwell County Fiscal Court is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14th, at 9:00 a.m. in the Fiscal Courtroom.
