The Pearl River County Board of Supervisors held a budget workshop on Thursday to discuss funding the county’s 2015-2016 fiscal year, adding a line item for animal and litter control.

District V Supervisor Sandy Kane Smith said the board plans to create a single position for an animal and litter control officer. Smith said it was necessary to combine the roles in order to afford the associated cost. According to previous Item coverage, the board cut animal funding during the 2012-2013 fiscal year due to budgetary reasons.

On behalf of the Senior Center of South Pearl River County, Kathleen Penton, the center’s participants coordinator, requested the board issue the center $25,000 for the upcoming fiscal year, which is $10,000 more than the center received last year. According to previous Item coverage, the additional money would be used to cover telecommunication expenses, an electronic tracking system that would allow the center to monitor their activities more efficiently and an expansion of the parking lot.

Penton asked the board to consider the center’s request saying, “We appreciate what you all do and times are hard for us just like everybody else.”

The board set a recommended budget of $15,000 for the center and plans to discuss the best way to divide the budget between the departments in the weeks leading up to the new fiscal year.

Also at the workshop, the board discussed options to reduce the yearly costs associated with travel reimbursements when county employees utilize their private vehicles to run day-to-day work errands.

District II Supervisor Malcolm Perry said the practice is costing the county.

“If we could cut out day-to-day travel costs departments spend driving from Poplarville to Picayune, it would save the county money,” Perry said.

This doesn’t include long-term travel, which Perry said he has no problem approving that reimbursement.

The board spoke about the possibility of purchasing a runner vehicle, which would be used by department heads to travel across the county. The board plans to discuss the issue in the near future to see whether a runner vehicle would save the county money.

The board plans to hold another budget workshop on Sept. 3. The workshop will take place at 9 a.m. inside the court facilities in Poplarville.

County Administrator Adrain Lumpkin said there are no proposed tax increases this year.