During its November 22nd meeting, The Board of Commissioners appointed two positions and approved a D.O.T. contract. But, as year-end closes in, the County seemed to spend its energies on its recent decision to refinance its building bonds and the budget.

Last Tuesday, the Board appointed Susan Hayes to the Department of Family and Children Services Board. Hayes will replace Lucy McKinney’s unexpired term. Hayes’ term will expire on June 15, 2015. Also, Lonnie Oliver was reappointed to the North West Georgia Region 1 EMS Council, a two year term which will run from 2012-2014. Over the past few months, Oliver’s EMS has been a sensitive topic, a department that recently realigned its overtime schedule, seen by some as budget cuts to the EMS Department and an endangerment to public safety.

But, the greater focus of the evening was the County’s recent decision to refinance its bonds on the Court House Building and the 2012 Budget, scheduled for approval in early December.

In a public hearing Tuesday night following the regular meeting, the Board opened the refinancing decision and next year’s budget to public discussion. When Commission Chair Bill Simonds opened the room up for comment, none of the approximately six citizens in attendance voiced any concerns. Citizens Lane Bishop, however, complimented the Board on the work it has done with the budget. The Board then approved a resolution of Installment Sale Agreement to transfer property pertaining to the Court House refinance. The resolution also provides for other purposes to refinance the Bonds held by ACCG ( Association of County Commissioners of Georgia). The resolution defines terms of the transfer agreement between the ACCG and Bank of America. According to the Resolution, The Bank of America will handle the refinancing of the Court House Building Bonds, a deal expected to reap the County $672,189.81. But, the question is: will this money find its way into the 2012 budget?

In a recent correspondence with FYN, County Clerk Rita Kirby explained that currently the budget does not reflect the money from the refinancing deal. However, Kirby said that she

“will not make changes until the refunding of the bonds closes,”

which she expects to take place by December 7th. Previously, Kirby said that the money will be used for day-to-day operations of the County and personnel. The money is intended to prevent the County from cutting budgets or personnel. The deal, though, seems to come a few weeks too late for 18 Road Department employees, who were laid off November 4th due to budget concerns.

The most recent, working version of the budget, shows that the County has a balanced budget , where the total expenditures and revenue equal $18,312,697. Special Option Sales Tax (S.P.L.O.S.T) Roads revenue brought in $2,520,000 and S.P.L.O.S.T Capital Outlay, $630,000, a tax type that will be contentious in 2012 when the transportation or T-S.P.L.O.S.T comes up for a vote in the Spring. T.S.P.L.O.S.T is deemed by many to be yet another tax and money that is siphoned from rural counties to urban rail projects in Atlanta. Also, many Tea-Partiers see the tax as an avenue to Agenda 21, George Soros’ scheme for global socialism.

Commission Chair Bill Simonds said that the budget will be approved at the next BOC meeting on December 13th, coinciding with the approximate deadline of the Court House Bonds Refinance deal of December 7th.