ANALYSIS: Barrow in the black for FY07

The audit, which covers Barrow’s fiscal year from Oct. 1, 2006 - Sept. 30, 2007, states that Barrow netted $1.27 million in its general fund for the year. That pushed the county’s overall fund balance to a total of $9 million at the end of FY07. Of that $9 million, $3.64 is in operating cash, and $2.63 is in a CD. The remainder is in other receivables.

The $9 million fund balance represents 27 percent of the county’s general fund expenses, which puts the county at the top end of the recommended range of 15-25 percent fund balance ratio.

The Barrow County government added 19 new positions in FY07, most public safety positions. But that was less than the previous two years when the county added 43 positions in FY05 and 44 new employees in FY06. The county had 472 full-time equivalent positions at the end of FY07, according to the audit.

For the rest of the story and a full page of Barrow County financial data, see the April 9 edition of The Braselton News.