County dealing with dire financial picture

County dealing with dire financial picture

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Friday, July 23. 2010

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A second meeting this week of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners was scheduled for Wednesday evening to tackle a $6 million budget gap for FY2011.

That gap has some county officials talking about an unpopular option — raising local property taxes in addition to making new spending cuts.

At a BOC meeting on Monday, the board raised the amount county employees will pay for health insurance (see other story.) Wednesday night’s meeting was for the BOC to give CFO Rose Kisaalita more direction in how to close the budget gap.

As of last week, the finance staff had received about $6 million more in spending requests than the projected revenue for FY2011.

Still unknown is the impact of a recently completed reassessment of property values – the second one in two years due to the continuing decline of values.

Through some creative financing last year, the board managed to balance the FY2010 budget without raising the property tax millage rate.

However, BOC chairman Danny Yearwood has said the county may not be able to avoid a millage rate increase for FY2011. At last week’s budget committee meeting, commissioners Steve Worley and Billy Parks agreed.

Yearwood said the goal would be to raise the tax rate only enough to keep property tax revenues stable. However, he did note that tax bills would go up on any property that has not lost value over the past two years.

A one-point rise in the millage rate would raise a tax bill by $40 for each $100,000 of a property’s value.

NO RELIANCE ON RESERVES

Not under any consideration at this point is any notion of using the county’s reserve funds to balance the budget.

By the end of the current fiscal year, the reserves are expected to drop to about $3.1 million.

Since her recent arrival, Kisaalita has been sounding an alarm about the reserves’ weakening condition, pointing out that what Barrow County calls a “reserve” is not cash but also includes money owed to the county.

For more on this story, see the July 21 edition of the Barrow Journal or click here to read the full story online when you subscribe to our new e-edition.

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#1 Anonymous on 07/23/10 at 07:41 AM [Reply]

To figure what the increase in your taxes would be -- multiply the assessed value by .0004 (1 mill increase)

For a 150,000 home it comes to $60.00 a year
or $1.15 a week.

Surely people are willing to set aside an extra dollar a week to save services.

It's worth that dollar to me to know that when and if I need the fire, ambulance, sheriff, EMT, etc.. they are there.

#2 Anonymous on 07/23/10 at 08:53 AM [Reply]

What analysis has / is being done to ensure the services are not over staffed. I recognize this maybe more than Yearwood or Elder can understand, but identifying what the service should be is critical prior to raising taxes. This should have been done before now, we shouldn't be talking about necessary adjustments today.

We've had two years to felled leadership and deficit spending. Cuts in public safety is needed and is necessary.

Take home cars, cell phones, memberships, and travel should be looked at, but really the number of staff needed to complete the task should be the number one focus. They don't have time to do that now, the budget has to be approved in two months.

Where has the forethought been.

#3 Overstaffed??? on 07/23/10 at 10:31 AM [Reply]

While I agree with you in regard to take home cars and some of the other frivilous items, staffing continues to be an issue with regard to the fire service and in public safety as a whole. There are four people at each fire station in the county, there are six fire stations, which equals a total staff of twenty-four front-line personnel and one shift commander. At current, with their staffing, six front-line personnel are assigned to a residential fire. These six personnel occupy two engines and an ambulance. Six people are not adequate enough to effectively manage even the smallest fire in a residential occupany. Adding another apparatus would only increase the staff on the scene to eight, still no where near adequate, even laying the recommended staffing numbers set by NFPA aside. Regardless of what standards and recommendations state, there are not enough to adequately and SAFELY do the job...Is it done? You can bet your backside, will it continue to be done? You bet! But I must say that the more they do it, the closer they get to something happening to fire crews or a citizen that will be the direct result of the department being understaffed. I am not sure what the outcome will be when this happens, but I can certainly say it will come with a hefty price tag. If/when it happens, people will be screaming about the county not doing more to prevent this from happening...heaven forbid it be you, your family or someone you know. There are plenty of things in the county that could be done without, but publc safety is certainly not one of them. Public safety is short already, there is no room for any less if we still expect to receive the service they now provide. Thank you to all of the firefighters, dispatchers, EMT's, and law enforcement for keeping us safe!

#4 TickedOff on 07/23/10 at 10:56 AM [Reply]

#1 Anonymous I agree with your figures. But thats as far as I can go. Please don't think Im personally directing comments at you because Im not. $ 60.00 a year doesnt sound like alot. But when you consider the following I think you'll see its way too much. 1) Barrow EMS routinely transports for the City and receives NO pay for it.2) Former administration spent 7+ million of our tax dollars on a cow pasture. 3) Sheriffs cars are driven home daily. Some do not live in Barrow County.4)How much have we spent on intergovernmental lawsuits? 5) Ask how much the red light at 81 near Home Depot cost us. It was to be provided by the developer. 6) Past due property taxes collected from our big builders on time would have kept us liquid.
I read almost daily about how bad it is. But once again the only thing left to do "raise taxes". And they'll sell this line of crap in the name of not wanting to cut services. The majority of us will swallow it because we are so conditioned to accept it or we just dont give a damn. I know you inherited a mess Mr. Yearwood, but you said you wouldnt raise taxes.Put your money where your campaign speech is. Find other ways. Need some help.
1. Sell the cow pasture. Take a loss. You'll be amazed how therapuetic it is to do right.
2. Bill the City of Winder for EMS services.
3. get those cars off the road
4. Fire those that sued with no grounds.
5.Collect taxes who owe. Don't raise mine.

You see Mr. Yearwood started off cutting fat and trying to fix things then he began to tire from negative BS and good ole small town politics. Realizing you need to do more 2 years later is a hard lesson. But one my $60.00 a year should not help ease the pain.

#4.1 JackLegg on 07/23/10 at 02:10 PM [Reply]

Excuse me Ticked Off, I live in the city and annually pay County Tax Dollars. For these Tax Dollars I am paying for EMS Services. Also anytime a patient is transported aren't they billed? I am patiently waiting your response.

#5 Jacquelin Twiss on 07/23/10 at 01:59 PM [Reply]

If you think there are ways to cut spending without raising taxes, then be at the county annex Monday @ 2:30. That's when the BOC will be discussing the budget.

Show up and share your ideas, take a look at the budget, be involved and not just sit behind your made up or anonymous name and speak up.

Show up and speak up or sit down and shut up.

#5.1 wow on 07/23/10 at 05:38 PM [Reply]

wow What a knee jerk response to everyone..We now see why you got blown out in the election with your 4 day school week idea.jezz

#5.2 Victor on 07/23/10 at 11:07 PM [Reply]

I feel extremely fortunate that I was able to vote against Jackie Twiss in the primary.

#5.3 Reply to Ms. Polosi, ah um oops, Twiss. on 07/26/10 at 11:14 AM [Reply]

Not everyone enjoys a cheese job my dear. There are those (of course you would not be one of them) that must drive out of the county for employment. A participation of budget meetings would be a windfall, however as stated, cheese is not for everyone.

#5.3.1 Jacquelin Twiss on 07/26/10 at 12:43 PM [Reply]

Careful you are starting to look green around the edges.

#6 dave on 07/23/10 at 10:45 PM [Reply]

But we do have 16.7 million to invest in Fannie and Freddy Mac. Give me a break this is more B.S. so the citizens will keep the trash we have in office. I would love to see an article on how they justify that while they keep cutting the employees. They complain about a few $$ when they invest millions in a failed company that the government has had to bail out. That money could have keep the county afloat for years.

#7 TickedOff on 07/26/10 at 10:01 AM [Reply]

Jacklegg. You do pay county taxes. Regardless if you leave in the city or not. But No the county does not bill the city when they respond to a city call and transport. You too are being fooled just like I was. Think about it. Most cities hire private or staff their own EMS. Winder does not. If you think because we pay county tax that should cover for transport, then why would City of Winder need a Fire Dept.,Road Crew etc. I can assure you if the city would bill the county for services they provided.

#7.1 Jacklegg on 07/29/10 at 05:30 PM [Reply]

You are truly an idiot. The patient is always billed when they are transported. Barrow citizens just like Winder citizens pay Barrow county taxes. These tax dollars go to pay the EMS system budget. All patients transported get billed. Barrow county is responsible for the EMS service for the whole county. This is the same case in Hall County for the city of Gainesville, Walton County in the city of Monroe, Gwinnett County in the city of Loganville. How do you respond now Mr knowitall?

Jacklegg

#8 Jimmy New on 07/26/10 at 01:37 PM [Reply]

All county employees need to prove their own transportion to work and home that will cut thousands of dollars that are being spend wastefully. If they can't drive their personnal car to work then they don't need the job that bad.

#8.1 whatever on 07/26/10 at 06:33 PM [Reply]

Well I guess your use of the english language shows why you cannot get one of those jobs Jimmy New. Good Job!

#9 TickedOff on 07/31/10 at 12:25 PM [Reply]

Jack@ss. I couldnt resist since you resorted to name calling and insults. I will refrain from a response on the EMS sitation. Although I will tell you talks are ongoing about this charge between the county and city. I have determined you are like most. You want something for nothing. And " Free Rides" are what you are looking for. Hell, you probably don't even pay taxes.

#9.1 WTF on 07/31/10 at 01:47 PM [Reply]

How would they get a free ride when they are billed for it? TickedOff you make no since with your last comment, and refraining from responding about EMS shows you lost the argument, crawl back under Danny's desk and keep licking!!!

#10 Jimmy New on 07/31/10 at 09:05 PM [Reply]

Well whatever, I don't need thepeice of paper to get a job. I don't to have someone looking over my shoulder to see if I'm doing it right.As to WTF they get a free ride everyday in the office chair, rolling back and forth.

#11 Jimmy New on 08/01/10 at 09:02 AM [Reply]

whatever you must be one of those over educated idots that work for the BOC that has put this county where it's at with it's budget. Cause you think you are better than anyone else and don't make mistakes.

#12 TickedOff on 08/02/10 at 11:25 AM [Reply]

Listen to your own words. If you pay for it in taxes, then why would you be billed for it? Make no mistake, government does nothing for free. This case is no differnt. The city should an will(in the near future) pay for services rendered by Barrow County Services.

#12.1 Barrow Fireman on 08/03/10 at 02:47 PM [Reply]

Ticked off, Every taxpayer off Barrow County, including those in Statham, Carl, Auburn, Bethlehem and Winder pay County Taxes, A portion of these taxes fund the Barrow County Fire and EMS budget. Any patient that is transported is also billed for the transport. This doesn't matter where in the county you live. I see no reason that the City of Winder should or could be billed for a service that the citizens are already paying for. If Winder would be billed would you begin billing the other cities in Barrow County? Just know this, when you are in need of Medical Transport, we will come take care of you no matter where you are. Thanks

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County dealing with dire financial picture

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