Hospital Bond, Jail Pods, Just a Few of the Big Expenses Facing Franklin BOC in 2016

Franklin County’s Board of Commissioners expect to have a tough time coming up with a balanced budget for FY2016.

The new fiscal year begins July 1.

At their meeting last week, Commissioner Jeff Jacques implored the public to come out to one of the three public hearings that will be scheduled before the board votes to pass a new budget.

One big expense in the next fiscal year will be the continued payments of the Hospital Bond.

The county had to make a $311,000 payment last December when Ty Cobb Regional Healthcare officials announced the hospital could not afford it.

Bridges said that twice yearly payment is not going to go away.

“A lot of people have the misconception that if St. Mary’s buys the hospital, the County will be out from under paying the bonds. That is incorrect. The county is going to be responsible for making the bond payments. That’s twice a year at approximately $622,000 a year.”

Bridges said the Board is considering some options for finding the money to make those payments.

“We are trying to not raise property taxes, if at all possible,” Bridges said.

Another big expense in FY16 is the expansion of the Franklin County Detention Center.

The Grand Jury last year called for the county to pay to add four new pods to the current jail at a total cost of at least$2.5 million.

After numerous meetings and discussions, the County agreed to add two new pods in FY16 at a cost to the County of over a million dollars.

Bridges says that project plus miscellaneous equipment issues are also a big concern.

“Another major is our equipment is getting old and wear and tear on many of our county equipment is taking its toll,” Bridges said. “Other equipment for construction of roads is obsolete and needs to be upgraded.”

Bridges said health care costs are also a problem for FY16. Since the County fully funds healthcare now, they have seen an increase in the number of insurance claims, but Bridges said no increase in the cost of health insurance is expected.

The times and dates for the upcoming work sessions and public hearings have not yet been announced.