Holmes County building official withdraws resignation; board approves 3% cost-of-living increase

Holmes County Building Official Keith Bennett will remain with the county after withdrawing his resignation during a September 28 special meeting of the Holmes County Board of County Commissioners, where commissioners also approved a 3% cost-of-living increase for Bennett and his staff.

County Coordinator David Corbin brought the matter before commissioners, explaining that he had received Bennett’s letter of resignation the previous week. Corbin said Bennett subsequently indicated he wanted to withdraw the resignation, and Corbin asked him to appear before the board to discuss the matter.

Bennett confirmed that he had submitted his resignation and had accepted another position in Altamonte Springs. He told commissioners he had been prepared to uproot and begin the new job before reconsidering his decision.

According to Bennett, a number of community members reached out and encouraged him to remain in Holmes County. Bennett then formally withdrew his resignation before addressing commissioners about compensation within his department.

Bennett emphasized that his department’s budget is funded through revenue generated from building permit sales rather than taxpayer dollars. He requested a 3% cost-of-living increase for himself and members of his staff, noting that other county employees had received a similar adjustment.

Commissioner Wilmer Stafford welcomed Bennett’s decision to remain with the county and said he supported the requested increase. Stafford, however, questioned why the matter needed to come before commissioners rather than being handled administratively by Corbin.

Commissioner Clint Erickson responded that he could explain why the issue had been brought before the board.

Erickson said Corbin had contacted him about the matter and that his concern centered on how changes affecting departmental budgets were being handled. Erickson said two or three departments had already received raises and argued that budgetary changes should have been addressed as part of the county’s budget workshops and adoption process rather than after the fact.

He maintained that matters involving changes to department budgets should come before the full Board of County Commissioners.

Commissioners ultimately approved the 3% cost-of-living increase for Bennett and his staff, with Erickson casting the lone dissenting vote.