County budget left hanging; BOC takes no action Tues. night

Despite the fact that the Barrow County government is facing a new fiscal year Oct. 1, the board of commissioners failed Tuesday night to resolve a looming $2.2 million deficit.

Although there were some new ideas on how to work toward that deficit, no action was taken by the BOC Tuesday.

Commissioner Steve Worley presented a list of suggestions that would take care of about $1.4 million of the shortage, but his was the only comprehensive proposal. And his recommendation that the board consider having the Winder YMCA take over the operations of the county’s recreation programs in order to save about $250,000 a year received a chilly reception – particularly from Chairman Danny Yearwood, who after the meeting remarked openly that he would never use taxpayer funds to subsidize a private organization.

After the meeting, Worley confronted Yearwood about that remark, noting that the chairman had known about the proposal for several days and had not mentioned any opposition to it.

For the full story on the Barrow budget, see the Sept. 2 issue of the Barrow Journal.

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#1 Anonymous on 09/02/09 at 03:07 PM [Reply]

I listened to the spill from the YMCA. I watched the reaction of the board.

My concern -- it is my understanding you have to be a member of the YMCA to use their services. A lot of people who use the community recreations can't afford the YMCA.

If having the YMCA take over the parks and recreation departments saves money, AND the cost and level of services DO NOT CHANGE or at least change for the worse, AND you don't have to become a member to partake in community recreational activities, then I'm all for it.

#1.1 Anonymous on 09/03/09 at 02:04 AM [Reply]

Trust me, if the YMCA wants something to do with it, there is money in it for them. Or should I say the directors.

For a non-profit who barely pays it's employees over minimum wage, it's seems questionable and sad that the CEO is the owner of at least 4 homes maybe more and he sure isn't hurting for money.

The Y is a wonderful community for it's members but someone needs to seriously question it's management. It doesn't need a politician(KURT STRINGFELLOW)for a leader, it needs a leader who "walks the walk" of Christianity instead of just talking about it whike trying to find a way to line his own pockets even more.

#1.2 Anonymous on 09/03/09 at 06:54 PM [Reply]

My family goes to the Y, and their rates for sports programs are actually cheaper than what the county rec dept charges. And you don't have to be a member to play sports at the Y. Also - the Y offers some sort of financial help to anyone to play sports or be a member for those that can't afford the rate (as my family has taken advantage of this program), and I don't believe that the rec dept is able to offer that.

#1.2.1 Anonymous on 09/03/09 at 07:28 PM [Reply]

You know - that was mentioned at the BOC meeting - lower rates and financial scholarships

#2 forcryingoutloud on 09/02/09 at 03:14 PM [Reply]

Commissioners need to stop showing up for a public meeting where important business is discussed and tossing out their latest mental hemorrhage. No one in their right mind would privatize to the YMCA, a membership only organization, on short notice.

I notice that commissioners are reluctant to look for savings where the real money is: sheriff's department.

Wanted in Barrow County: a minimum level of political leadership.

#3 Anonymous on 09/02/09 at 04:37 PM [Reply]

Raise taxes, cut services, raise taxes, cut services....... Considering that several of the commissioners blatantly stated they would NEVER raise taxes - that leaves cut services. Isn't the parks and recreation a service? That means it would be on the chopping block .... won't it be better to allow the YMCA to operate the parks & recration at a SAVINGS of $250,000 a year?

To be honest with you, Worley seems to be the ONLY one who is making suggestions, (good, bad, whatever) or trying to find a solution.

Raise taxes, cut services, raise taxes, cut services ....... the right choice, the easy choice, the right choice, the easy choice ......

#3.1 cui bono....? on 09/02/09 at 09:04 PM [Reply]

Who is the real potential beneficiary of the proposed Park and Rec deal? There is the matter of the $2,600,000.00 the county would subsidize to the YMCA, in addition to giving away total control of a county service, in addition to a $1 per year lease for total control of the county's facilities. In light of the recent economy, and the YMCA's dependence upon charitable giving; it would seem prudent to examine the organization's fiscal ability to deliver on the arrangement without a reduction in service or increase in user fees.

#3.1.1 I can add -- can you? on 09/03/09 at 07:48 AM [Reply]

It's actually $300,000 not 2.6M. That's a savings to the county of 269,070. I guess I can see how the gossip mongers came up with 2.6M (the savings + a few extra zeros"

Look at the budget:

Income from P&R 222,801
Expense (Budget) (791,871)
LOSS 569,070
YMCA to operate (300,000)
Savings to county 269,070

#3.1.1.1 Anonymous on 09/03/09 at 08:59 AM [Reply]

2 years @ $300,000 = $600,000
8 years @ $250,000 = $2,000,000

$2,000,000 + $600,000 = $2.6 million
(last time I checked)

#3.1.1.1.1 I can add -- can you? on 09/03/09 at 11:08 AM [Reply]

County Run - 569,070 *10 years = 5,690,700
Y Run -(your figure for 10 years) (2,600,000)
Savings over the ten years 3,090,700

there apples to apples -- oranges to oranges.

IF you are going to compare the TOTAL amount given the Y over a ten year period - COMPARE it to the loss and SAVINGS over a ten year period.

#3.1.1.1.1.1 Anonymous on 09/03/09 at 10:33 PM [Reply]

I can add. Can you read? There are no comparisons in this post. This post is questioning the long term impact of a short-sighted proposal.

How bout them apples?

#4 Anonymous on 09/02/09 at 09:01 PM [Reply]

The YMCA is not going to take care of the parks and recreation for free.
Use inmates to fix and clean the parks. We pay to keep the inmates up so why not use them to work on things that need fixing. There are enough of them that we should not need to spend anything expect the materials for up keep. I am sure there is a landscaper in jail, a framer or any other skilled labor we would need. We already pay the jailers to watch them.
Put them to work and save money!

#4.1 Anonymous on 09/03/09 at 09:58 PM [Reply]

how can inmates be used if yearwood wants to send them elsewhere. I think the chairman does not like any idea that is not his or that makes him look good.
He has lashed out at the sheriff and now Worley.
I'm not sure about his salary but that would be the best savings for Barrow County and a great place to start

#5 Anonymous on 09/02/09 at 09:45 PM [Reply]

Thank you Steve Worley! I can tell that you put a lot of thought into this budget. Stay strong because we need you....

#6 Anonymous on 09/03/09 at 12:09 PM [Reply]

This complete fascinates me. The county's budget is in the red. The BOC have two choices - raise taxes or cut services.

The people of Barrow County have spoken -- DO NOT raise taxes -- CUT services. But then, they whine because the services are being cut - either by actual cuts or outsourcing.

The issue here is the parks and recreation - either it takes cuts from the county or is outsourced to the YMCA. How dare the county think about outsourcing this to the Y!! OMG What has this county come too?

Let's use Elders "proposal" (if you want to call it that) of all departments taking a 8% cut.

P & R - that would be 63,350 - so let's look at that figure. The new budget amount would be 728,521 (791,871 - 63,350 = 728,521)

Income 222,801
New budget 728,521
Loss 505,720

That is still less than if the Y ran it. For the county to show a profit, they would have to more than triple their income - that my dear would come from the people who use the P & R facilities.

People you CAN NOT have it both ways. You CAN NOT cut the budgets to services and EXPECT the same level of service.

Either the board cuts services (by whatever means possible) or raise taxes.

#6.1 Anonymous on 09/03/09 at 11:09 PM [Reply]

I don't understand why this is presented in absolute either/or terms...cutting budgets, raising taxes/fees, and borrowing are not mutually exclusive. It's going to take some political backbone to fix this. You just can't go around outsourcing county responsibilities in lieu of making tough and/or unpopular decisions.

#6.1.1 Anonymous on 09/04/09 at 08:58 AM [Reply]

The tough and unpopular decision would be to raise taxes. I don't see that happening. Worley was able to find 1.4M in cuts to the budget; Raise taxes to cover the rest. Don't see that happening. The county ALREADY outsources - take a look at the budget -- what do you think professional & technical services are? Money paid for outsourced responsibilities. Why hire an engineer when you can outsource? Why run a parks and rec department when you can outsource.

#6.1.1.1 Anonymous on 09/04/09 at 03:18 PM [Reply]

Professional and technical services are provided to the county government. Parks and Recreation is a county service that is provided to the citizens. It's just my opinion that there is a big difference.

#7 Financial person on 09/03/09 at 01:25 PM [Reply]

Sounds like Barrow County needs a good CFO with education and experience. Oh yea, they did have this person and they ran her off.

#7.1 You Jest on 09/08/09 at 09:42 AM [Reply]

Barrow County has never had a good CFO. The last poor excuse for a CFO is partially to blame for the current mess we are in...

#8 Anonymous on 09/03/09 at 03:29 PM [Reply]

Just read the article in the Barrow Journal. I've come to the conclusion Yearwood doesn't have the best interest of the citizens of Barrow County at heart .... he has a personal vendetta against the sheriff at heart.

He wants to RAISE taxes and CUT the sheriff's budget. Let's take 1M from the citizens of Barrow and let's take 1M from the sheriff.

What about Worley's WELL THOUGHT OUT plan to reduce the budget by 1.4? Add to that the $300,000 from the sale of the old fire station, you are right at 1.7M; That leaves approx 500,000 to go. Let's see if we outsource the Y that should be another 260,000 (give or take) so we are down to around 230,000 in the red. Revisit a few of the departments and there you go.......

#9 Anonymous on 09/07/09 at 08:50 AM [Reply]

Commissioners in Georgia are bound legally not to interfere with the operation of the sheriff's office.....

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County budget left hanging; BOC takes no action Tues. night

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County budget left hanging; BOC takes no action Tues. night

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