COVID-19 Impact to Franklin County’s FY2021 Budget Still Not Known

The impact to Franklin County’s 2021 Fiscal Budget from the COVID-19 pandemic is hinging on the State’s latest Sales Tax Distribution information, which has not yet been released.

That’s according to Franklin County Manager Beth Thomas.

At their work session, Thomas said the distribution information they receive in May will show the impact of the pandemic on the County’s sales tax base.

“The sales tax distribution this month will give us the first indication of what the COVID did to our sales tax base, she said. “We’ll see the gas price impact and then we’ll see some of the sales tax. What we get in May will represent what customers paid in March.”

Thomas told the Board she is hoping to keep the county employee’s cost of living increase the same for fiscal 2021, but again, it hinges on what the sales tax revenue numbers will show.

“Right now in my budget projections, I do not have COLA in there. However, I would like to leave it on the table that should our economy bounce back better than expected or not be as big of an increase that we keep that option out there. I don’t’ want to take the COLA’s off the table until we know what the sales tax implications are going to be,” she said.

Thomas also said she is recommending the County approve an increase to the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter budget for fiscal 2021.

Thomas also noted the Health Department requested no increase in their budget for FY2021, but she said that was made before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

A public hearing on the FY2021 budget is planned for June 18 at the Justice Center in Carnesville.

The FY2021 budget must be approved by the end of this fiscal year which ends June 30th.  The new fiscal year begins July 1.