During budget hearings this morning, Commissioner Fred Skillern asked if attorney Rheubin Taylor will give the commission an opinion about whether offices can hire more people and give raises after the budget is approved.
The Clerk and Master's office hired a deputy in August 2010; the Soil Conservation office also had a non-budgeted raise.
This prompted Skillern to ask for the opinion.
"If it's not in the budget, do they need to get us to approve it?," Skillern asked. "If not, there's no need for us to approve a budget."
Commissioner Mackey warned of the long-term consequences of subtle increases.
"I'm trying to make sure I don't hear creep coming into this budget," Mackey said. "It's very subtle, but it's still adding dollars and positions."