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Ben Hill County reviews proposed 2021 budget with $200,000 increase for salaries and IT
Summary
County officials reviewed a proposed 2021 budget showing about a $200,000 increase tied to salary changes, software upgrades and licensing; officials said the county is close to a balanced budget and discussed keeping Joint Services funding at 2020 levels.
Ben Hill County commissioners on Dec. 3 reviewed a proposed 2021 budget that County Manager Michael Dinnerman and Chief Financial Officer Darlow Maxwell said includes about a $200,000 increase largely driven by salary adjustments and information-technology investments.
"Some salary changes, software upgrades, and software licensing made up the $200,000 increase in the budget," Dinnerman said during the workshop at the Ben Hill County Courthouse Annex. Maxwell told commissioners he built the proposal using audited figures from 2018 and 2019 and was available to answer questions.
Commissioners examined revenues and expenditures by line item and asked questions about specific entries. Several commissioners thanked Maxwell for the budget book and the clarity of the presentation.
The board also discussed funding for Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Joint Services after the City of Fitzgerald proposed an increase. Commissioners signaled a preference to remain at the 2020 funding level for 2021 as they continued to review county finances; Dinnerman said the county is "really close to a balanced budget" for 2021.
Next steps: the manager and finance staff will continue work on the budget and provide any adjustments ahead of the formal millage-setting and adoption process, which was not scheduled during the workshop.
