Commission Explores Financing Options
The Jasper County Commissioners met for two work sessions on Monday—one on the upcoming Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and one on the 2018 fiscal year budget.
The first one was on SPLOST, and only three commissioners were present. Commissioner Craig Salmon had planned to be available by telephone, but was unable to listen in. Commissioner Doug Luke was working. Commissioner Burce Henry missed the previous week’s meeting so had not done his homework.
Commission Chairman Carl Pennamon and Commissioner Don Jernigan were present at both meeting but had little to say.
Because the SPLOST requests came in at nearly three times what a SPLOST will generate, the commissioners are looking at other ways to fund projects.
They asked County Manager Mike Benton to come up with some scenarios. At last week’s meeting Mr. Benton gave the commissioners several scenarios involving borrowing some $7.5 million above what the SPLOST will bring in.
The first two years payments on the borrowed money would be made by SPLOST, with the anticipation that future payments would be funded by the tax revenue brought in by Shire through the Four County Development Authority.
The county is slated to start getting a small amount of money next year from that project, with it escalating each year, and by 2022 should generate nearly a half million dollars.
The scenarios presented by the county manger had numerous options, and still some things are cut from the requests.
The different scenarios involve varying amounts for the projects, and financing over 25 or 30 years. Little discussion took place Monday, and commissioners will meet again next week.
During the budget work session, commissioners got their first look at departmental requests, which are up nearly a million dollars over last year. However, no cuts have been made at this time. And, some requests are items they removed from SPLOST and said they would handle through the department’s budget.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) shows some of the highest gains, with Sheriff Donnie Pope trying to give his employees a raise, and add needed people in the jail. In addition, he has requested funds to contract with a medical provider for serve in the jail. Currently, prisoners are taken to a local doctor’s office when medical care is needed. He suggests that is a liability, and could better be handled with a medical group in house.
Commissioners spent about an hour reviewing the requests, and heard from Sheriff Pope and Extension Director Kasey Hall, because they happened to be there, but did not begin making cuts.
