Braselton to clear funds for new officer
When it comes to balancing its proposed budget, the Braselton Town Council got its wish to add the first of two new positions for the police department.
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BOC to begin budget process Monday
A major political battle is looming over Barrow County’s 2012 budget process that begins at 4 p.m. today with a meeting of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners.
This is the first time at least in recent history that the budget process is being kicked off by the full board rather than by a budget committee. Previously, the full board hasn’t become involved until the end of the process in late August or September.
But District 3 Commissioner Steve Worley asked for the commissioners to meet first, because with a third straight year of a shrinking tax base, sliding revenues and the arrival of additional fixed expenses in FY2012, the budget process that worked in the past is not going to work now.
CFO Rose Kisaalita, who for the first time will direct the process from start to finish, has told the commissioners that she is looking for policy direction about the budget process – and potential spending cuts and whether raising the millage rate is an option. [Full Story »]
This is the first time at least in recent history that the budget process is being kicked off by the full board rather than by a budget committee. Previously, the full board hasn’t become involved until the end of the process in late August or September.
But District 3 Commissioner Steve Worley asked for the commissioners to meet first, because with a third straight year of a shrinking tax base, sliding revenues and the arrival of additional fixed expenses in FY2012, the budget process that worked in the past is not going to work now.
CFO Rose Kisaalita, who for the first time will direct the process from start to finish, has told the commissioners that she is looking for policy direction about the budget process – and potential spending cuts and whether raising the millage rate is an option. [Full Story »]
Called meeting of Winder City Council today
There will be a called meeting of the Winder City Council at 5:30 p.m. today. On the agenda are the recently announced $4.9 million loan for a project several council members knew nothing about, as well as an amendment to the FY2011 budget that was approved just last week.
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Winder budget hearing today at 5 p.m.
Winder’s city government today at 5 p.m. will hold a public input session on its proposed budget for FY2011, which begins July 1.
The budget includes multiple rate hikes: 7-percent increases in the monthly base charges for water and sewer; 15-percent increases in the volume usage rates for water and sewer; a $1 per month increase in the garbage rate; and a new environmental fee based on the amount of impervious surface on each piece of property. Impervious surfaces are items on top of the ground that do not allow water to pass through.
The "Environmental Protection Services" fee will show up on county property tax bills, according to the proposed budget. The amount has not been set. It is to cover the cost of implementing state mandated services for stormwater; fats, oils and grease disposal; and watershed protection.
The water and sewer rate hikes go into effect Sept. 1. [Full Story »]
The budget includes multiple rate hikes: 7-percent increases in the monthly base charges for water and sewer; 15-percent increases in the volume usage rates for water and sewer; a $1 per month increase in the garbage rate; and a new environmental fee based on the amount of impervious surface on each piece of property. Impervious surfaces are items on top of the ground that do not allow water to pass through.
The "Environmental Protection Services" fee will show up on county property tax bills, according to the proposed budget. The amount has not been set. It is to cover the cost of implementing state mandated services for stormwater; fats, oils and grease disposal; and watershed protection.
The water and sewer rate hikes go into effect Sept. 1. [Full Story »]
Barrow County’s revenue forecast brightens
Barrow County’s revenue picture for the upcoming year may not be as dismal as expected.
Despite this summer’s countywide reassessment of 29,000 properties, most of which declined in value, the overall tax digest dropped by only 3.5 percent, according to Tax Commissioner Melinda Williams.
That is about half of the expected decline and could mean another $650,000 in property tax revenue for the county government in FY2010, according to internal auditor Marilyn Golightly.
However, the revenue forecast in the proposed budget for the new fiscal year will not be amended before Monday night's public hearing on the budget, she said.
[Full Story »]
Despite this summer’s countywide reassessment of 29,000 properties, most of which declined in value, the overall tax digest dropped by only 3.5 percent, according to Tax Commissioner Melinda Williams.
That is about half of the expected decline and could mean another $650,000 in property tax revenue for the county government in FY2010, according to internal auditor Marilyn Golightly.
However, the revenue forecast in the proposed budget for the new fiscal year will not be amended before Monday night's public hearing on the budget, she said.
[Full Story »]
Budget public hearing Monday night
A public hearing about the FY2010 budget for Barrow County's government is scheduled for Monday night at the county annex building.
Final numbers to balance the budget have been compiled but will not be publicly released until that 6 p.m. hearing, according to Bob Hohe, the county's operations development manager.
The Barrow County Board of Commissioners will not vote that night. The commissioners will vote at a second meeting scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, specifically for the adoption of the budget.
Tuesday night, a tentative deal worked out between Sheriff Jud Smith and commissioners Steve Worley and Eva Elder fell apart after the Sheriff issued a letter saying he had found an additional $181,000 shortfall in health and retirement premiums. That memo caught BOC members, including chairman Danny Yearwood, off guard, leading to a lengthy closed-door meeting between the chairman, sheriff and several members of the BOC. [Full Story »]
Final numbers to balance the budget have been compiled but will not be publicly released until that 6 p.m. hearing, according to Bob Hohe, the county's operations development manager.
The Barrow County Board of Commissioners will not vote that night. The commissioners will vote at a second meeting scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, specifically for the adoption of the budget.
Tuesday night, a tentative deal worked out between Sheriff Jud Smith and commissioners Steve Worley and Eva Elder fell apart after the Sheriff issued a letter saying he had found an additional $181,000 shortfall in health and retirement premiums. That memo caught BOC members, including chairman Danny Yearwood, off guard, leading to a lengthy closed-door meeting between the chairman, sheriff and several members of the BOC. [Full Story »]
Committee unable to balance Barrow budget for FY2010
A committee of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners has been unable to come up with a balanced budget for FY2010.
After meeting on a weekly basis for months and then in a marathon budget-cutting session all day Wednesday, the committee learned at the end of its meeting that the numbers were still off by $2.2 million.
Rather than make additional cuts, the committee decided it would present the numbers to the BOC Tuesday night and leave it to the commissioners to fill the gap. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
With millions of dollars in cuts through layoffs and salary reductions this year, there doesn’t appear to be a simple answer to the budget dilemma.
County Chairman Danny Yearwood said he favors a 1-mill tax hike to cover the nearly $1 million in annual debt service on $15 million in bonds issued by the Winder-Barrow Industrial Building Authority for the 2006 purchase of land at the intersection of highways 53 and 316.
But Yearwood said most of the county commissioners oppose a tax hike – in large part because of the loss of the state Homeowner Tax Relief Credit that will cause homeowners to pay at least $224 more on their FY2010 tax bills – even without a millage rate increase.
[Full Story »]
After meeting on a weekly basis for months and then in a marathon budget-cutting session all day Wednesday, the committee learned at the end of its meeting that the numbers were still off by $2.2 million.
Rather than make additional cuts, the committee decided it would present the numbers to the BOC Tuesday night and leave it to the commissioners to fill the gap. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
With millions of dollars in cuts through layoffs and salary reductions this year, there doesn’t appear to be a simple answer to the budget dilemma.
County Chairman Danny Yearwood said he favors a 1-mill tax hike to cover the nearly $1 million in annual debt service on $15 million in bonds issued by the Winder-Barrow Industrial Building Authority for the 2006 purchase of land at the intersection of highways 53 and 316.
But Yearwood said most of the county commissioners oppose a tax hike – in large part because of the loss of the state Homeowner Tax Relief Credit that will cause homeowners to pay at least $224 more on their FY2010 tax bills – even without a millage rate increase.
[Full Story »]
EDITORIAL: Winder a dictatorship?
At Tuesday night’s City of Winder council meeting, Mayor Chip Thompson and city administrator Bob Beck made it clear that they don’t intend to follow the state law regarding the town’s FY2010 budget.
[Full Story »]
BOC to vote Tuesday on layoffs, salary cuts
Wednesday, June 3. 2009
Employees of Barrow County’s government will learn Tuesday night how severely the county’s fiscal crisis will affect them. The Barrow County Board of Commissioners is likely to vote Tuesday night on decisive steps to salvage the county’s finances.
The plan reportedly includes a significant “reduction in force” affecting most departments, as well as salary cuts for many of those who hang onto their jobs.
Salaries are expected to undergo a major correction to remedy the snowball effect of the aggressive implementation of a 2005 pay study that has resulted in salaries and benefits now absorbing nearly all of the county’s annual revenues.
At current staffing levels, salaries would require all but $2 million of the $28 million in anticipated revenue in FY2010.
The cuts to be announced Tuesday should also make a serious dent in the FY2010 budget shortfall, which currently is projected to amount to $7 million or more.
The plan reportedly includes a significant “reduction in force” affecting most departments, as well as salary cuts for many of those who hang onto their jobs.
Salaries are expected to undergo a major correction to remedy the snowball effect of the aggressive implementation of a 2005 pay study that has resulted in salaries and benefits now absorbing nearly all of the county’s annual revenues.
At current staffing levels, salaries would require all but $2 million of the $28 million in anticipated revenue in FY2010.
The cuts to be announced Tuesday should also make a serious dent in the FY2010 budget shortfall, which currently is projected to amount to $7 million or more.
Winder officials won’t face public
Despite a difficult budget year and some recent city layoffs, Winder’s mayor and city administrator said this week that neither they nor the city council would be part of any public hearing process regarding the town’s impending $43 million FY2010 budget.
That position raised questions from one citizen at Tuesday night’s council meeting and appears to violate Georgia law regarding the city budget process.
City administrator Bob Beck said residents have “ample opportunity” to air their concerns at the hearings.
“If you are looking for an opportunity to sit there and do a conversation or have input back and forth between citizens and the council and the mayor, that does not happen,” Beck told a citizens who questioned the city's budget process.
The city’s proposed budget was distributed for the first time to the council Monday night. The city held a meeting May 26 at which a city employee met with two citizens, but that meeting did not have the mandatory seven-day public notice, and the mayor and council did not attend as required by state law for the meeting to be a legitimate hearing. In addition, the “budget” presented at that hearing was incomplete, consisting of a one-page data spreadsheet. [Full Story »]
That position raised questions from one citizen at Tuesday night’s council meeting and appears to violate Georgia law regarding the city budget process.
City administrator Bob Beck said residents have “ample opportunity” to air their concerns at the hearings.
“If you are looking for an opportunity to sit there and do a conversation or have input back and forth between citizens and the council and the mayor, that does not happen,” Beck told a citizens who questioned the city's budget process.
The city’s proposed budget was distributed for the first time to the council Monday night. The city held a meeting May 26 at which a city employee met with two citizens, but that meeting did not have the mandatory seven-day public notice, and the mayor and council did not attend as required by state law for the meeting to be a legitimate hearing. In addition, the “budget” presented at that hearing was incomplete, consisting of a one-page data spreadsheet. [Full Story »]
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