Franklin Co. Passes FY 2016 Budget

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

Franklin County has a new budget for Fiscal 2016.

At their work session Tuesday night, the board passed the new budget by a vote of 4-1 with Commissioner David Strickland voting against.

Franklin County’s fiscal 2016 budget is just over $13.2 million, up from this fiscal year’s budget of $11.8 million.

County Manager Beth Thomas said though unless the millage is raised, the County will have a budget shortfall of $1.4 million in FY16.

Prior to the vote Tuesday, Thomas read a statement that essentially backed off her initial recommendation of a weighted millage increase that would have taxed those in unincorporated parts of the County more than those living in municipalities.

Instead, Thomas last night called for an even millage increase across the board.

“My recommendation that we pass this budget as written, which will require the generation of $6,079,669 in property tax of revenue based on the tax digest,” Thomas read. “This amount, combined with insurance premium tax and TAVT tax, reveal a total of $7,058,839 in property taxes listed as the attachment to the resolution. If the budget revenue is proved, it may be generated by an even increasein the millage rate.”

After a motion to pass the budget by Commissioner Jeff Jacques, a debate ensued in which Commissioner David Strickland told the board he was against any sort of millage increase.

Strickland contended the County could use money from bonds still sitting in SPLOST IV funds.
Thomas said however, that money is already earmarked.

“We can still bond out money on SPLOST IV, but that borrowing can only be used for the projects listed,” she explained. “There are no projects that are viable. They weren’t ready to be done.”

Earlier Thomas told the board she wants to borrow some $2 million in Tax Anticipation notes to get the County through until the fall when property tax revenue comes in.

Strickland said the County should also take out another bond to keep from raising the millage.

“I’ve spoken with a bank and if you’re at $1.74 and we’re at $1.95 and then come in be able to do things and then look at a tax anticipated note for next year on January 2 to do the same thing so we can let other people pay instead of going to the property owners because they always bail us out. The commissioners have always done what’s easy and that is to raise taxes on the property owners,” Strickland said.

Thomas said if the County did that there would be no excess to pay that bond back.

Thomas said she has cut as much of the services as possible, but Strickland said the County could cut 5% across the board in every department, as well as salaries.

Jacques noted the cuts made over the years have provided the County what he called a perpetual savings. It was also noted some department budgets, like the Sheriff’s office, cannot be cut.

The board will now turn its attention to voting to raise the millage. Two public hearings will be held this month before the board votes.

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