As calls for budget decreases across the state begin, Fannin County’s local government officials are looking at ways to cut costs to alleviate projected financial deficits due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After receiving projected loss of revenue figures, Blue Ridge City Council member Nathan Fitts is requesting that city attorney, James Balli, only be available by conference call if needed on a “time to time basis, if notified and arranged ahead of time should there be circumstance or situation that we feel guidance is needed from legal counsel.”
The News Observer asked The City of Blue Ridge, The City of McCaysville, Fannin County, the Fannin County Water Authority and the Fannin County School System how much their respective attorneys were paid in attorney fees in 2019.
Blue Ridge City Clerk Kelsey Ledford provided that The City of Blue Ridge paid $55,067.99 total to Balli in 2019.
According to Ledford, $37,620.49 of that total was paid to Sams, Larkin, Huff & Balli, LLP, $10,395 was paid to Balli-Law, LLC and $7,052.50 was paid to Taylor English Duma, LLP.
McCaysville City Clerk Nancy Godfrey said McCaysville City Attorney Cortney Stuart was paid $16,248.38 in 2019.
Fannin’s county clerk, Sherri Walker, said County Attorney Lynn Doss was paid $68,500.08. Doss was also paid $2,500 in settlement fees for the Whitepath Fabtech building purchase.
Fannin County Water Authority General Manager Mike Searce provided that the authority paid Doss $90,277.25 in 2019, however this cost also covered services dated back to June of 2018.
The Fannin County School System paid their attorney, Doss, $35,981.25 in total in 2019. $7,075 of that total was paid in attorney fees from January to June, $8,606.25 for July through December, $16,300 in legal services for the 2019 E-SPLOST vote and $4,000 for property closing costs.