Fayette County Treasurer Jamie Durham presented a Form 144 request to hire a full-time deputy while transitioning an existing part-time role into a five-month seasonal position. Durham cited recent consultation guidelines from the State Board of Accounts emphasizing the treasurer’s legal liability and the administrative necessity of internal controls.
Durham outdoor-argued that a clear division of duties is mandatory under state audit rules, stating, “It is my duty to make sure that we do not have more liability against us for non-compliant issues. I’m coming for a full-time deputy, because if I have a part-time, I cannot leave the office. I no longer get vacation and so forth. So, therefore, I don’t feel that that’s fair, but we had to have checks and balances in the office.”
During the presentation, Durham stated the personnel shift aligned with the council’s ongoing goal of achieving a 15% budget reduction across all county departments, noting the part-time reduction saved $1,500. However, county officials corrected the record on the floor, noting that the overall budget request of $108,526 was actually $7,000 higher than the previous year’s budget of $101,528. The increase spans multiple lines including employee overtime, travel, training, and service contracts, meaning the department request is out of alignment with the requested 15% reduction, but Durham noted he has some areas he found recent savings to help.
The council also discussed the propriety of Durham’s wife, Councilwoman Connie Durham, voting on the treasurer’s office budget. Wesling advised that while no specific statute prohibits it since it does not directly dictate the elected official’s personal salary, it presents a difficult gray area regarding local nepotism policies.
Wesling strongly advised Councilwoman Durham to pass on the decision, stating on the floor, “I’m not telling you you’re doing anything illegal by voting, okay? I’m just telling you that if you’re asking my opinion, my legal opinion, it is my legal advice to not vote on anything that has to do with your husband’s office. If you and I wind up in a courtroom someday and I’m representing you, it’s a heck of a lot easier for me to say you abstained.”
The motion to approve the full-time deputy and one seasonal part-time position ultimately passed 4 to 2, with Councilwoman Durham abstaining from the vote.
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