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Ben Hill County officials report stronger revenues, audit shows fund balance growth
Summary
County leaders reported higher SPLOST and LOST receipts and a General Fund cash position of about $1.38 million; Meeks CPA reported the 2019 audit showed the fund balance rose from $1.7M in 2018 to $3.4M in 2019.
Ben Hill County officials reported stronger revenues and a materially larger fund balance at the Oct. 6 meeting.
County Manager Michael Dinnerman told commissioners that SPLOST and LOST revenue 'doubled' that month after a company paid taxes; he reported SPLOST collections of $491,074.82 (Ben Hill's share listed as $270,091.015) and LOST collections of $245,541.30. Dinnerman said the county's General Fund cash position was $1,380,000 and that the county was "up to $1,260,000 ahead of last year" (the comparison period is not further specified in the minutes).
Pat Ashley of Meeks CPA summarized the county's 2019 audit, saying assets increased from 2018 to 2019 and that the fund balance grew from $1,700,000 in 2018 to $3,400,000 in 2019. "I consider that to be healthy," Ashley said. Dinnerman acknowledged that the audit was a teamwork effort that also included Sheriff Lee Cone and Tax Commissioner Barry Foster.
The minutes record these figures and the audit summary but do not include supporting schedules, the identity of the company that generated the one‑time tax payment, nor a detailed breakdown of the General Fund comparison to the prior year. No follow‑up motions or formal votes tied specifically to the reported receipts or audit results are recorded in the meeting minutes.
