Commissioners approve FY21 Financial Report

Board of Commissioners
BOC approve alarm ordinance

FANNIN COUNTY, Ga. — The Fannin County Board of Commissioners approved the 2021 fiscal year audit and budget adjustments and the final draft of Fannin County’s Annual Financial Report during their latest meeting.

Chairman Jamie Hensley briefly explained the financial report and audit, emphasizing notable portions.
He first explained that the budget adjustments were mostly made up of salary changes, specifically noting a 3% salary increase and ARPA compensation that was given to county employees.

Hensley then explained that uncertainty from the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020 led to the “flat” budget for the fiscal year of 2021. He noted that the county made a conservative estimate of revenues, accounting only for property taxes. Despite that, Hensley said the county received more than anticipated: “The general fund increased in fund balance by a little over six million dollars.”

Commissioner Johnny Scearce, who attended the meeting online, said he was “very happy with it.”
“We don’t know what tomorrow is, it’s kind of an uncertain time. So it’s good to have a little cushion,” Commissioner Glenn Patterson followed. He also mentioned two upcoming projects for the county, referring to two recent agreements between the Fannin County Board of Commissioners and other governmental bodies. One will bring a free-standing library to the county, and the other will create an improved recreation center for both county and city residents. Patterson called the projects “good things for Fannin County,” adding, “and we need some funds to make that happen.”

The only other action item on the board’s agenda was the approval of a variance request. The commissioners approved the request, from Fred Glennon and Helen Johnstone, made to place a garage on property off of Highland Gap Road. During the public commentary portion of the meeting, the commissioners also heard from county residents about development and traffic concerns. Expressing the board’s interest in responding to growth in the county, Chairman Hensley told one commentator: “Whether anybody likes it or not, change is inevitable. It’s going to happen. It’s how we manage it.” He continued, “We’re fairly young in our seats. We’re trying to find those answers as quickly as possible.”

Fannin Commissioners approve 2021 budget

Board of Commissioners, News
2021 budget

BLUE RIDGE, Ga – The three Fannin County Commissioners approved the 2021 operating budget after some discussion about the sheriff’s account.

The total 2021 budget was $29,356,858 plus $87,675 for the sheriff’s office. The addition kept the sheriff’s account the same as it was in 2020.

“A good flat budget. I’m pleased that everybody’s pitched in to try and get us through a very difficult time and keep the county financially whole,” Chairman Stan Helton said.

Sheriff Dane Kirby came before the commission board to discuss adding $87,675 back into his budget for car purchases. The amount would leave the sheriff’s office with the same operating budget as in 2020.

Previously, the Sheriff’s Office budget had a line item for lease purchases, and they asked for it to be moved to salaries, according to Chairman Stan Helton. They made their final lease payment in 2020, so Kirby wanted to use the money to buy vehicles in 2021.

“Our last meeting, we had, we were not going to put any salary increases for anyone other than what was mandated by the state,” Helton explained. He also addressed that the sheriff’s office received 25 percent of public safety SPLOST. The sheriff’s office has $34,000 budgeted for capital outlay in 2021, and $100,000 will come from SPLOST.

Sheriff Kirby explained that the amount would purchase three cars, and the office needs five. Without adding the $87,675 back, Kirby would have used the $50,000 from the small equipment and tools line item.

“We will know at the end of January where the county stands because everything will be finally tabulated for 2020,” Helton commented. “What my strategy was: is to leave [it]. You have $134,000 that is immediately available, and if you needed to get two more cars, it would be just a matter of the new board to amend your budget from that.”

Sheriff Dane Kirby wanted his budget restored to the 2020 amount.

“I asked everyone to stay where they were at. I didn’t agree to cut anybody,” Post One Earl Johnson said.

Kirby explained that he tell the car dealer if they were committed to purchasing the car.

“He’s got a handful of vehicles on the lot, and we’ve got five of them spoken for, but if we don’t take them right after the first of the year, he’s going to have to sell them to somebody else,” Kirby commented.

The cars would be fully equipped and cost approximately $42,000 each.
Kirby also spoke about the need to increase salaries in the sheriff’s office, stating it’s difficult to recruit people into the county when neighboring areas are paying more.

The recreation department’s budget increased in 2021 because of the pre-school program – approximately $58,000.

https://youtu.be/NkDaiC12z7Y

Fannin proposed 2021 budget features 2 percent increase

News
insurance

BLUE RIDGE, Ga – The 2021 proposed county operating budget features a 2.8 percent increase from the 2020 budget.

The total will be $29,356,858 and a public hearing concerning the 2021 budget will take place on December 8, 2020 at 5:15 p.m. in third-floor assembly room. All interested parties are invited to attend. Following the public hearing, the board of commissioners will approve the budget during the December 8 commission meeting.

The 2020 budget was $28,564,665. The largest portion of the budget will go towards risk management, which includes health insurance. The county recently moved from self-insured to a fully insured plan.

“The challenge we have this year with the budget is the same challenge that every county, every state is having to deal with that is the [unexpected COVID-19 expenditures],” Chairman Stan Helton explained.

He cited the $2 billion of cutbacks in the state budget due to the pandemic. Helton also recognized that the hotel/motel tax and SPLOST assisted in seeing Fannin County through the difficult times.

“We really won’t know how the year is until the end of January when the new administration is here. By that time, they will have final 2020 revenue and cost numbers. My personal opinion that the times warrant being as conservative as we can with our budget, and at the same time, when the new administration is here, they’ll have a chance to look at it. If they choose to amend any department, they’ll have the option to do that.,” Helton furthered detail the reasoning behind the proposed budget.

2021 proposed budget

Fannin hasn’t laid off or furloughed employees during the pandemic.

Post One Earl Johnson came out against the increase during a year when everyone is focused on saving money.

“I don’t know any of us that are spending more money…We’re not giving all our employees raising at least in my company and it’s kind of throughout all county governments,” Johnson said. “I’m going to ask everyone until this pandemic is over, we need to be very smart…I would suggest everyone be comfortable where you’re at.”

He added that he doesn’t want to leave “any future administration’s in a bind” and is against increasing any department’s budget in 2021. No one knows when the pandemic will end.

Post Two Glenn Patterson stated that some people are still hurting financially and inquired to the cost of living increases.

Helton then explained that the only increased in the 2021 budget were part of a state unfunded mandate for salary increases to reelected officials. It’s a state-level requirement for county governments to fulfill. CFO Robin Gazaway explained that one elected official will receive an estimated salary increase of $9,000 from county funds. The state doesn’t have to pay anything.

Back to Top