The most-debated items at Tuesday’s meeting of the Eddy County Commission turned out to be two on which no action was taken.
Last week, the commission amended its agenda to remove consideration of a proposal for contract air ambulance services with Trans Aero Ltd.
District 3 Commissioner Larry Wood of Artesia says he had concerns regarding the cost of the contract – estimated at $135,000 per month – particularly in light of the county’s ongoing budget woes.
“That’s something we really need to study, with the budget being where it is,” Wood said.
As per the budget, Wood cited the fact that the pace at which the state is sweeping money from the county at present “just makes your head spin.”
Wood says the county is already staring down a potential $700,000 shortfall by the start of the next fiscal year in July, provided the situation in the oil and gas industry does not markedly improve, and that the state is also looking at doubling the county’s Medicaid and healthcare safety net fund payments, currently set at one-sixteenth percent and one-twelfth percent respectively.
“So there’s another $5 million by July they may require us to pay to the state, and if it doesn’t happen this year, they can project it for the next fiscal year,” Wood said. “How are we going to meet our budget in the coming years and maintain the employees and the services that we have?”
A few county residents also voiced concerns over the air ambulance contract Tuesday, speaking out against both the cost of the contract and the fact the proposal was listed on the county’s consent agenda.
Consent agendas are bulk lists of resolutions, agreements and permissions passed with a single vote by a governing body, with the statement that those items were “reviewed in advance” by the body and are of a “routine or non-controversial nature.”
Plucked out of Tuesday’s consent agenda for discussion was a resolution to establish a four-day workweek for county administrative offices and departments.
The resolution would have required county offices to hold 10-hour days – from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break – Monday through Thursday and close Fridays with the intent to cut operational costs in order to save the county money.
Some commissioners and county employees alike expressed opposition to the resolution, and it was tabled for further discussion.
