Carroll County Finance Director reports September revenues up, cash dip tied to capital spending

Alicia Searcy, Carroll County finance director, told the Board of Commissioners on Oct. 30 that the county's September financial statements show year-to-date revenue of about $11,722,926 and expenditures of $25,715,021.

Searcy said that when capital projects are removed from the expenditure total, spending falls to roughly $21,000,004.53, or about 25.1% of the annual budget, which she described as "dead on where we should be for the year" three months into the fiscal period. She cited stronger collections from motor vehicle fees and local option sales tax as contributors to revenue being approximately $700,000 higher than the prior year to date.

Searcy reported the county's general fund cash balance at $32,717,660, down roughly $2 million from the prior year; she told commissioners that the balance is low for the year because of capital outlays but that cashflow should improve in October after an insurance premium tax payment and the start of property tax collections.

On SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) programs, Searcy said there were no payouts from the 2015 SPLOST in September and that FY2026 expenditures tied to the 2021 SPLOST totaled $3,288,000, driven largely by sheriff's vehicle purchases, road work and LMIG projects. Commissioners did not take final action on these financial statements at the work session but moved routine finance items to the consent agenda for the business meeting.