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More cuts, higher taxes likely as Barrow faces large shortfall in 2010 budget

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Top Stories & Breaking News, Winder Archives

Wednesday, May 13. 2009

Comments (13)

Friday was a day of reckoning at the county administration building as a new committee of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners began work on the budget for the fiscal year that starts in October.

And the picture wasn’t good.

No decisions were made, but several options for dealing with the situation were placed on the table.

Based on the discussion, it appears that reduced employee benefits are likely, layoffs are possible, and a tax increase is nearly certain.

Figures presented by CFO Beth Horacek and county chairman Danny Yearwood are preliminary, but they indicate a FY2010 revenue shortfall of $7 million or more.

That is 20 percent of this year’s shaved, $34-million budget and nearly all of what was allocated in the original FY2009 budget for non-salary operating expenditures from the General Fund.

“It is probably going to be the hardest year we have ever went through,” Yearwood told the 11-member committee comprised of five board members and six county staff. “The reason is that our revenues never stopped before. When revenue stops, you can’t fund what you’ve been funding. It’s just that simple.”

For details on the Barrow County financial crisis, see the May 13 issue of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 I've got my eye on you (BOC) on 05/13/09 at 04:18 PM [Reply]

I was at the BOC meeting last night and while the coffers may be dry, they (commissioners) didn't bat an eye at giving the county attorney, Angie Davis, an additional $100,000.

And then they sat there and debated giving a $2.00 raise to two paramedics. Let's see 2 dollars x 2 paramedics x 40 hours (week) x 52 weeks = $8,320. They whined about $8,320 but didn't bat an eye at $100,000.

The best part -- when old Danny Boy called for a motion to approve or deny -- Good old Berry said I motion that we do whatever Angie tells us to do.

Let me repeat that:

I MOTION THAT WE DO WHATEVER ANGIE TELLS US TO DO.

If the chairperson and the commissioners can't run the county and do their jobs WITHOUT being told what to do, they need to go!!!!

All the county attorney is doing is sucking more money we don't have from the county. Billable hours that's what matters to her.

#2 Henry Higgins on 05/14/09 at 08:23 AM [Reply]

Could we elect people that know how to speak proper English?

"It is probably going to be the hardest year that we have ever WENT [sic] through."

I MOTION [sic] we give more dollars to shyster.

Is is too much to ask that the ignorant & uneducated be excluded from consideration for the high offices which they currently occupy?

#3 Tim on 05/14/09 at 08:32 AM [Reply]

Thats the way let's talk about raising taxes on the very folks having a had enough time copeing with lack of money and job loss! Government it just gets better every day. Where are you now danny i voted for you? Boy i sure need to think that over next time you stop by and ask for my vote!!!!!!!!!!!!

#4 none given on 05/14/09 at 05:17 PM [Reply]

Of course they will give Angie all the money she wants: she's a close friend of the HR lady. Every time the two of them speak on the phone--it's billable!!!! Whether it is county business or not..it is billed. It seems to be a conflict that they have such a close relationship. Not saying they can't be friends; but why should the county pay for them to chat on the phone?

#5 Jacquelin Twiss on 05/14/09 at 08:51 PM [Reply]

I was there as well - front row center and actually laughed when they voted to amend the budget to give the county attorney an additional $100,000. What happened to being over budget? I guess staying within budget doesn't apply to the BOC and the county attorney.

And I couldn't believe my ears when coach Berry made the comment about doing whatever Angie told them to do.

Does anyone else see what's wrong with that statement?

If Yearwood hadn't fired all the department heads, they'd have people who knew what they were doing and won't have to pay Angie that extra $100,000.

#6 Anonymous on 05/15/09 at 05:21 PM [Reply]

HOW CAN THEY JUSTIFY GIVING AN ADDITIONAL $100,000 TO AN ATTORNEY???????

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE ATTORNEY HAS BEEN OVERPAID FOR QUITE SOMETIME, BUT AGAIN SHE IS AN ASSOCIATE TO THE HR DIRECTOR.

IF THE HR DIRECTOR WAS QUALIFIED, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE ATTORNEY TELL HER EVERYTHING TO DO.

I regret to see that they are going to allow the HR Director to continue....................
She (along with her cronies)are going to break the county.

Look at the disgrace to Barrow County, and it appears that it is going to continue.

#7 GaDawg on 05/17/09 at 11:58 PM [Reply]

I agree with the last post. HR director Norma Jean Brown needs to be fired. She is not qualified for her position. It is ridiculous to think that she promoted herself to that position, before resigning from being a Commissioner, just so she could gain the pay check.

#8 Anonymous on 05/18/09 at 02:17 PM [Reply]

GaDawg -- nice to know - didn't realize she was a commissioner before becoming HR - explains alot.

#9 Anonymous on 05/18/09 at 05:58 PM [Reply]

explains why she had to go to all that training last month.

HR lady - non essential position -- training
Fireman - essential position -- no training

AND $100,000 to the county attorney.

DO MAKE ME PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN -- NOT!!!

#10 anon on 05/19/09 at 09:31 AM [Reply]

Promoted herself, Bullies everyone to get her way and the Board Of Commissioners allow this to go on. Not a proud citizen either!!
Danny Yearwood it is time for you to step up to the plate and stop it!!!!!!!!!!!!

#11 Dee on 05/19/09 at 12:49 PM [Reply]

I don't know why anyone would be surprised that Isiah Berry would say do whatever the attorney tells them, He is a good man but the HR director tells him what to do. She is pretty much telling them all what to do , she promoted herself and pushes her weight around and she has Danny snow blowed and leading him around by the nose. I think it's unethical the way she does and the Board Of Commissioners let her and the attorney get away with it , all the while on your tax dollars. So everyone sit back and enjoy the show , you are paying for it , like some popcorn with that.

#11.1 Joe on 05/20/09 at 04:37 PM [Reply]

Yes, I'll take some popcorn and an extra large coke.

#12 Anonymous on 05/19/09 at 08:32 PM [Reply]

Anyone who attended the meeting or saw it on TV can see that the HR Director is the one that needs to be fired. The majority of the additional $100,00 to the attorney is the result of the HR Director.

If you listened careful she contradicated herself and "plainly is not qualified".

What does she have that keeps her job secure?

It is very clear, that Director of the county do not communicate. The HR Director requested additional money (but really not sure how much, because benefits were not allocated for) and did not consult with the Financial Director, prior to standing before the Board of Commissioners and looking stupid.

I regret that our county is allowing such unqualified, dishonest, disgraceful, bullying people to run the county.

The amount of money being spent by BOC, I know we could have Qualified, Honest, people, who would work for their salary; instead of paying someone to threaten and bully other people while they are padding the pockets of their family and friends.

Please, Chairman and Commissioners, get rid of the corruption and over paid employees within the BOC?

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