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Whitfield County approves healthcare budget amendment, postpones pension payment and accepts two grants
Summary
On Jan. 13 the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved a $1.4 million amendment to the 2024 healthcare budget, voted to postpone a $2,062,154 ACCG defined benefit contribution, and accepted two federal/state grant awards totaling $135,657 to support drug testing supplies and a counselor position for addiction recovery.
Whitfield County commissioners on Jan. 13 approved several financial actions, including a supplemental healthcare budget amendment and the acceptance and ratification of federal- and state-administered grants.
Chief Finance Officer Debbie Godfrey presented November financial figures and the board approved the November 2024 financial statement by a 4-0 vote. The minutes record LOST and TAVT collections and YTD revenue/expenditure comparisons; ending fund balance as of Nov. 30 was listed as $15,476,967.
The board approved a $1.4 million budget amendment to cover additional 2024 medical and pharmacy expenses; the minutes state these costs will be prorated to departments and funds based on headcount. The motion carried 4-0.
Commissioners also voted to postpone the recommended $2,062,154 contribution to the county's Defined Benefit plan payable to ACCG for 2024; the motion to postpone was recorded 4-0. No payment schedule or future date for the postponed contribution was recorded in the minutes.
The board accepted a Bureau of Justice Assistance Edward Byrne Memorial JAG award of $25,527 to be used for drug testing supplies for the Conasauga Domestic Violence Court, and ratified a Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust grant of $110,130 to cover personnel and operating costs for a new counselor at the Conasauga Community Addiction Recovery Center (CCARC). Both grants were recorded as approved 4-0. The minutes note the Opioid Trust will hold further annual rounds of grant opportunities.
Why it matters: The healthcare budget amendment addresses prior-year medical and pharmacy overages; postponing the defined benefit contribution defers a sizable county pension payment and could affect actuarial or audit outcomes. The grant awards fund specific criminal-justice and addiction-recovery supports.
What’s next: The minutes do not specify follow-up reporting deadlines, revised budget documents or timing for the postponed ACCG payment; those administrative details will be handled by county finance and affected departments.
