Smoke and Mirrors?

The Jasper County Commissioners agreed Monday to start a fund for roads, initiating the account by depositing excess revenues from 2006 into the account.

The action came when the commission learned that it appears the county will finish 2006 with a substantial fund balance. (Actual figures won’t be available for 60 days or so after all the bills come in, but right now there is close to a million dollars.)

Commissioners had been concerned that they would not have enough money in 2006, and had cut the budgets of seven entities in November, 2005, in anticipation of the shortfall.

Those entities—Jasper Memorial Hospital, the Putnam Jasper Retardation Center, the Jasper County Library, the Development Authority of Jasper County, Family Connection, Health Department and Jasper County Water & Sewage Authority—were cut 20 percent or more, and told that if there was sufficient money to fund their programs, the money could be restored.

When questioned during 2006, then Commission Chairman Jack Bernard said “that money is gone.” (Ultimately the county did return the library’s 20 percent that had been cut.)

Further, the commission agreed to borrow up to $600,000 from the Georgia Environmental Facilities Association (GEFA) to cap the landfill.

In addition, the county was concerned where it would get the $220,000+ needed to pay off the Courthouse SPLOST, for which revenues fell short.
It is truly good news for Jasper County citizens that there is a surplus for 2006.

However, there is reason for concern about the decision making and financial oversight of the county commission. If the county is to finish the year in the black, with excess revenue, without borrowing for anticipated needs, did the county not tax us too much?

It appears that taxpayers may have provided substantially more money than the county needed to operate in 2006, money that will now be used for purposes other than what it as budgeted for.
The county cut those entities after the budget had been set for 2006…after public hearings had been held on the proposed budget with those entities not being cut.

Now the county is taking the excess revenue to use for road improvement—a lofty plan since the road department is cut each year to make the budget balance.

It is good that the county’s finances are sound. But, the question remains, which is the smoke and mirror act—the county’s dismal condition just over a year ago, or is it the county’s new found wealth?