THOMASVILLE — Expressing concerns about the tax commissioner’s employee numbers, the Thomas County Commission chairman, vice chairman and another board member voted against approving the county manager’s recommended 2010 budget for the agency.

Tax Commissioner Shirley Prevatt told county commissioners a year ago she was relinquishing her ex-officio sheriff status and would no longer collect delinquent taxes. During Monday budget hearings, she refused to discuss the matter with commissioners.

Prevatt’s requested 2010 budget is $459,682. The amount recommended to commissioners by Mike Stephenson, county manager, is $454,682.

The figure includes $273,364 for salaries, $40,500 for group insurance, $20,912 for Social Security, $15,500 in retirement contributions, $900 for unemployment insurance and $1,500 for workers compensation.

The discussion became heated as some commissioners confronted Prevatt about her decision not to collect delinquent taxes.

Board Chairman Josh Herring told Prevatt there are concerns that she might not need as many employees since her office does not collect back taxes.

“No, sir, because I did that myself,” Prevatt responded.

“If that duty’s not there, why do we need eight people in the office?” Herring asked the tax commissioner.

Commissioner Louis Rehberg pointed out that the sheriff’s office staff, which is now collecting delinquent taxes, is not adding employees, but is taking on more expenses to do the work.

Commissioner Ken Hickey made a motion to approve Prevatt’s requested budget, which included all eight employees. Commissioner Moses Gross made the second.

Commissioner Claud Davis interjected his concern that a duty was given up, but there has been no change in the number of employees in the tax office.

“I feel that you are not doing what you were elected to do,” commission Vice Chairman Elaine Mays told Prevatt. “ ... Your job is to collect the taxes.”

Mays told Prevatt that all of her predecessors collected taxes.

“You simply refused to do what you were elected to do. I cannot vote for the manager’s recommendation,” Mays said to Prevatt.

“I just don’t want anybody to lose their job,” Hickey said.