Muscogee Clerk of Superior Court Linda Pierce hires lawyer to fight mayor’s proposed budget cut | Latest News | Columbus Ledger Enquirer

Muscogee County Clerk of Superior Courts Linda Pierce has retained an attorney in an effort to force Columbus Council to restore funds cut from her budget for fiscal 2014, Pierce confirmed Wednesday.

When Mayor Teresa Tomlinson prepared her recommended Fiscal 2014 budget, she instructed department heads to start with their FY13 budgets and cut 1.5 percent from them.

Pierce contends that the 1.5 percent cut from her budget, coupled with being forced to absorb payroll and pension expenses, would prevent her from being able to carry out the constitutionally mandated mission of her office.

When she presented her case to Columbus Council during recent budget hearings, she said the councilors gave no explanation, only a “no” to her request to stay at 2013 levels.

At that point, she contacted the County Officers Association of Georgia, a group that represents and advises elected county officials, and was advised to seek legal help. She contacted attorney Dan Lee of LaGrange, who works with county officials, and he sent an e-mail to City Attorney Clifton Fay, dated Monday.

“The proposed 2014 fiscal year budget of the city does not reasonably and adequately provide for the personnel and equipment necessary to enable the Clerk of Courts to perform her duties, as required under the Georgia Constitution,” the letter began.

via Muscogee Clerk of Superior Court Linda Pierce hires lawyer to fight mayor’s proposed budget cut | Latest News | Columbus Ledger Enquirer.