Elbert County Budget Becoming Harder to Balance
By David Stephens, WSGC Radio, Elberton
Elbert County expects it will be a struggle to make ends meet in Fiscal 2014.
The Elbert County Board of Commissioners received an overview of the Fiscal Year 2014 budget at a recent work session. Elbert County’s fiscal year begins July 1st.
Elbert County Chief Financial Officer Phil Pitts told the board it’s been a tough slog to put together a budget for the next fiscal year due to a lack of economic growth.
“This has been a struggle dealing with this, and as has been pointed out in this meeting our property is not growing, which generates additional revenue to operate a governing body on”, explained Pitts. “Sales tax, we not only get it for SPLOST, but we get it for LOST, which funds our day-to-day operations.”
According to Pitts, the county took about a 4.5% – 5% hit on the upcoming tax digest.
Pitts said the tax digest has been dropping for the past four years, but this next digest is expected to be the worst for the County.
“Its getting tough now, we are reaching the point of not having revenue growth where it is going to be a challenge to balance budgets”, said Pitts.
The proposed FY 2014 budget for Elbert County was not balanced; coming in at a $12,520 deficit.
Commissioners in Elbert County are expected to meet later this month for a called meeting to review and advertise the budget to the general public.