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Bulloch County CFO says revenues and spending generally on track at midyear review
Summary
Chief Financial Officer Christy King presented a December 31 year-to-date budget report showing overall general fund spending at about 46.1% and most revenue categories near expected levels, with property-tax timing and one large hospital authority payment driving outliers.
Christy King, Bulloch County chief financial officer, told commissioners the county’s year-to-date report through Dec. 31 shows overall general fund expenditures at about 46.1% of budget and most revenue lines near the expected roughly 50% mark. "I have prepared a report that I actually do every month to send to the commissioners and department heads so everybody kinda knows where we are, with the status of the budget," King said, noting the packet is available for public review.
King told the board that intergovernmental revenues already exceed budget because a large annual payment from the hospital authority arrived early and in higher-than-expected amount. She also said property taxes appeared at 72% on the county’s books as of Dec. 31 because of the one-month lag between the tax commissioner’s receipts and the county receiving funds, and that number should rise sharply in January.
The CFO said most departments are near 40–50% of their annual spending, with public safety slightly over 50% primarily because of payroll additions in recent years. She noted some departments show higher spending rates for predictable, front-loaded costs such as a workforce study paid in the first half of the year. King said special-revenue funds (accountability court, E-911, rural fire, airport) reflect the expected timing of reimbursements and grants and are not cause for immediate concern.
Vice Chairman Toby Connor and others added context about timing for fire tax revenue and how that can make some department budgets look overdrawn on paper early in the year. Connor said the fire tax revenue “doesn't start to come in until about right now,” which can temporarily inflate apparent spending ratios until revenues post.
King offered to walk commissioners or members of the public through the report and said county finance staff will continue to monitor overtime, year-over-year trends and personnel costs, which comprise roughly two-thirds of the general fund. "If anyone wants to look at it and then have specific questions, I'm happy to answer questions," she said.
The presentation concluded with commissioners thanking King for the transparency and offering to schedule follow-up discussions if needed.
