NATCHEZ — Supervisors voted Monday to forgive approximately $50,000 the board attorney said the city owed the county on consolidated dispatch costs.

Board Attorney Scott Slover said the city paid according to the E911 interlocal agreement, but the document had a monthly funding error in it that caused the city to come approximately $50,000 short of the county’s actual costs.

Earlier this month, the city voted on a new interlocal agreement going forward that would have the city pay approximately $292,000. The county approved the interlocal agreement separately Monday.

At the joint meeting with the city, Board President Mike Lazarus had suggested the county forgive the $50,000 as long as the payments were corrected going forward.

Slover said Monday the county could accept the $292,000 and move on or seek the $292,000 plus the $50,000.

Lazarus said Monday forgiving the shortfall was up to the board. However, Lazarus said he was still for not seeking the $50,000.

Lazarus said to his understanding the city took what it had left in its dispatch budget after the city paid off leave to its employees going to the county and gave what was left to the county.

“If we go back and make them pay the $50,000, they are going to say they paid what the ILA said,” Lazarus said. “I am trying to help them out. I represent city people too.”

District 4 Supervisor Ricky Gray and District 5 Supervisor Calvin Butler both said the county should move forward with the new interlocal agreement. The vote to approve the interlocal agreement without seeking the $50,000 was unanimous.

The interlocal agreement, which became active approximately 6 months ago, was up for renewal in October. 

The city and county had the option to renew the agreement month-to-month if any review was still required, Slover said.

The extension is for a one-year period.