Adoption set for Dec. 8 after hearing
The Fannin County Board of Commissioners are advertising a budget for the 2021 Fiscal Year that includes $29,356,858 in Grand Total All Expenditures and $29,534,299 in Grand Total All Revenue Funds.
In comparison, the 2020 budget totaled $28,564,665.
According to Chairman Stan Helton, the only differences in the 2021 budget is the state mandated unfunded salary increases for re-elected officials and an increase to the Risk Management line item. The new proposed budget is a 2.8% increase upon last year’s.
“The challenge we have this year with the budget is the same challenge that everybody in every county and every state is having to deal with, and that is trying to deal with all of the COVID-19 expenditures that were unanticipated,” Helton said during a meeting of the board Tuesday, November 10. “The state budget approved was about $2 billion reduction, or about 8%, in their budget. … Some of the other commissioners around us that I’ve discussed they’re all combatting and trying to scratch their heads. They know what their expenditures are, but their revenues is the big part that they’re having to struggle with. So far this year, we’re doing pretty well in our county.
“A lot of the tourism business has helped contribute all the Hotel/Motel Tax and the SPLOST Tax, but we really won’t know how the year is, actually, until the end of January when the new administration is here, and by that time they will have a total of final 2020 Revenue and cost numbers. What I feel, it’s my personal opinion, that the times warrant being as conservative as we can with the budget, and at the same time, when the new administration is here, they’ll have a chance to look at it, and if they choose to amend any department, they have that option to do that. If we were to sign off on a budget that’s sky high, that would be a disservice to the new administration.”
The budget includes an approximated fund balance of $2,104,779, which includes $1,141,110 in SPLOST - NET funds and $963,669 in General Fund funds.
Post One Commissioner Earl Johnson told the board that he was not in favor of increases this year due to the pandemic, stating, “I don’t see any of the taxpayers out here spending more money then they did six months ago or getting raises more than they did six months ago, so right now, as of this budget time, until we know where we’re gonna go or where we’re gonna head, I would suggest everyone be comfortable with where you’re at.”
The board intends to adopt a budget during their regular meeting Tuesday, December 8. A public hearing will be held to discuss any concerns those in the public have regarding the budget, just prior to the meeting, at 5:15 p.m.