Owens said the board also discussed upgrading the technology in the meeting room in 2005-2006 and it was the same thing, a lot of money.

Interim county manager Marche Pittman said the contract will put the monitors facing the audience and includes a document camera and wireless microphones for all commissioners and the attorney. The county received three estimates, with one coming in over $50,000 and the other approximately $400 above the low bid, which was chosen. Commissioners asked Pittman if the technology was cutting edge.

“It’s not cutting edge but it’s a lot better than we have now,” Pittman said.

After some discussion with county finance officer Sandra Hughes about where the money would come from, commissioners decided to take it out of fund balance.

Hughes said another option was to take the money out of fuel and regular contingency. The county currently has $24,000 remaining in its fuel contingency and another $13,000 in its regular contingency. Hughes also said so far this year, not including the new technology, the county has taken approximately $511,000 from its fund balance.