Carroll County reports March revenue shortfall, details SPLOST spending

Alicia Sorcy, Carroll County finance director, told commissioners on May 1 that the county had collected $69,420,000 in revenues through March 2025, or about 86.87% of the $79,000,009.13 annual revenue budget. "We have the March 2025 financial information in front of you," Sorcy said as she opened the recap.

The report showed year-to-date expenditures of $58,487,008.59, equal to roughly 71.63% of the annual expenditure budget. The fiscal snapshot is intended to guide commissioners as they finalize spring budget planning and consent items for the upcoming business meeting.

Sorcy also outlined recent SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) activity. She said major SPLOST outlays included about $946,000 paid to the general contractor on the fifth floor of the Judicial Center and roughly $111,000 on the Administration Building. She said other SPLOST items in March were smaller. Sorcy added that another SPLOST line (referred to in the report as "the 15") had no expenditures in March and that related road-safety work was paid from the LME account; the transcript did not specify the reference "15."

Chairman and commissioners asked clarifying questions during the work session but took no formal fiscal votes at that meeting; the financial recap was presented for information and for placement on the business meeting agenda. No legal or policy changes were adopted at the work session.

The finance director said the county expects reimbursements to cover some general-fund costs under a judicial ARPA grant but did not provide a schedule for when those reimbursements will arrive. The timing of reimbursements and the pace of year-to-date spending will affect whether the county later seeks to reimburse any reserve draws used for upcoming projects.