MUMBLINGS July 20, 2006

Growth continues in all areas including county government. Thanks to information received from and by the cooperation of the staff of the Baldwin County Commission, we have some phenomenal figures.

In 1982, the total budget of the county was $7,568,000.00. It has jumped to $125,098,908.00.

You have been told in this column about the tremendous growth of banks in the county, the great increase in real estate values, our schools’ growth, and now county government.

I arrived in this county seventy years ago next month. At that time, Justice of the Peace, Judge Franklin was the main caretaker of the county records. Later, the four commissioners stuck their necks out and employed G. Mac Humphries, a state auditor and local son of Judge Humphries to keep records and a perfect set of books… he was great and very protective of county funds. He had one assistant, Mrs.ErinWhite. That was the total office force for the commissioners. To get him, they had to pay him a few thousand dollars, but enough to cause some criticism among the citizens. It turned out to be a good investment because he was dedicated, accurate and efficient.

Throughout these seventy years, county government has been relatively clean and honest. In fact, I do not remember any crookedness like we have had in some of the surrounding county government. A couple of our county commissioners were a little off beat once or twice, but nothing real serious.

As I recall, there were three circuit judges who got out of line. I won’t name them but one was involved in a little hanky panky with a woman on trial in his court. Another stated a man who was creating too many illegitimate children should have been castrated, stating this from the bench. Another posted in his office all the names of lawyers in the county who made political contributions to his opponent. The Alabama State Bar considered these actions unethical, and they had to relinquish their jobs. But, nothing happened like fraud in the county.

In 1982, the cost of $7,568,000.00 did not include agencies that were later added to give additional service. They are Communications and Information Systems, Solid Waste Collections, Civil Defense which has evolved into Emergency Management.

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The growth of the various departments in the county is also important. In 1982, the General Fund was $3,137,000.00 to $62,766,000.00 this year, and the employees increased from 79 to 342 during the same period.

Other agencies include: Highway department from $2,768,000.00 to $36,085,000.00, employees from 75 to 146; Jail from $372,000.00 to $5,939,000.00, employees from 22 to 84; Sheriff’s Department from $733,000.00 to $8,220,000.00, employees from 34 to 144; County Commission from $197,000.00 to $254,000.00, employees from 8 to 4; Probate from $361,000.00 to $2,675,000.00, employees from 20 to 42; & Solid Waste as of 2006 is $9,160,000.00, employees are 72. The total number of employees of the county went from 238 in 1982 to 834 in 2006.

Obviously, our county government is huge and growing. It is also complex and our commissioners are supposed to be part time. Yet, most make it a full time job and all are underpaid. It is understood they are considering hiring a new county administrator. Obviously one is needed.

See you again soon, I hope.