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Whitfield County approves 2021 budget amendment, asks departments to find 2% savings
Summary
The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved a 2021 budget amendment reducing contingency from $1,000,000 to $600,000, asked departments to find 2% savings, created a $10,000 COVID-19 Partnership match, and reallocated purchase of 20 SUVs from CARES Act proceeds to 2020 SPLOST.
Whitfield County commissioners approved a set of 2021 budget changes Jan. 11 that reduce contingency funds, ask departments to find savings, create a COVID-19 partnership match, and reallocate vehicle purchases to a SPLOST fund.
The board approved lowering the contingency line from $1,000,000 to $600,000 and asked county departments to identify 2% savings for 2021. The board also approved creating a COVID-19 Partnership with an initial $10,000 matching contribution. Commissioners approved re-allocating the purchase of 20 SUVs from CARES Act reimbursement proceeds to the 2020 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) fund.
The budget amendment was moved by Commissioner Robby Staten, seconded by Commissioner Barry W. Robbins, and recorded as approved 3-0 in the minutes. Finance Director James Garvin had presented the November 2020 financial statement earlier in the meeting, which showed year-to-date revenues of $33,584,683 (2.0% over projection) and year-to-date expenditures of $42,045,407 (4.8% under projection). The minutes record Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) at 61.556% for 2020 and list November LOST collections at $933,286.
Other routine items approved alongside the budget changes included a 2021 Superior Court interpreter contract with KRNW Inc. for $83,700 and adoption of a county hiring goal to prioritize internal applicants for county vacancies (Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department and constitutional officers exempt). The board also authorized the planning commission’s recommendation to rezone a 178.07-acre tract at 0 Houston Valley Road from R-2 to General Agricultural.
The board gave no additional details on the COVID-19 Partnership’s purpose or specific funding uses in the meeting minutes; departments were directed to present 2021 goals beginning Feb. 8, 2021.
