Board of Commissioners Adopts $33.3 Million Budget

After months of reworking numbers to overcome a , Oconee County Commissioners adopted a $33.37 million budget for fiscal year 2012 on Tuesday.

There is no change to the millage rate and around $610,000 will be used from the reserve fund balance. It will cost a little more to participate in various sports and activities through the Parks and Recreation Department, and water and sewer rates are going up.

The meeting followed the second of two public hearings . No citizens spoke Tuesday. Instead, Finance Director Jeff Benko explained modifications made to the budget proposal over the .

The General Fund bottom line changed from $19.3. to $19.5 million after modifications were made to the Parks and Recreation and Public Works portions.

An additional 17 programs through the Parks and Recreation Department --10 of which are currently offered-- will have fee increases that are expected to generate another $55,000 of revenue.

Lisa Davol, deputy director of programs for the Parks and Recreation Department, said 90 percent of those are after school and summer day camp programs.

"We do feel like those programs will be impacted," she told commissioners.

Commissioner Daniell had requested the additional fee increases last week.

The Public Works budget was also changed from last week's proposal.

After reassessing payroll and adding four hours of operation on Sundays for the landfill, the Public Works expenses increased $117,000 to $2.4 million.  All sanitation sites and the landfill will now be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.  The Bogart Area facility, which had been open only on Saturdays, will be closed to public use and only be utilized by the Town of Bogart and the Parks and Recreation Department.

The Enterprise Funds were also modified slightly before the budget was approved.

A Super Saver program --which allows water customers who use the least amount of resources to remain at the current rate-- reduces the Enterprise Funds' projected revenue by $10,000 to $7.1 million.

"I'm gonna support this budget," Commissioner Jim Luke said. "I'm having to vote for something that has some elements that I don't like, but somewhere along the way we all have to come together and make a vote on something that four of us, or at least the majority of us, agree on."

Benko said it has taken a lot of work to whittle the numbers down, including good-natured give and take with constitutional officers and department directors. 

"I look at this budget first as the single most important document that you  will do in a year." Benko said. "Secondarily, I think, again, this keeps us on the right track.  [It's a] precedent that ya'll have set to keep us in a very good, stable position."

Chairman Melvin Davis said he was pleased that the budget contained no involuntary separation of employees, but he did express concern about the additional fee increases for after school and day camp programs through the Parks and Recreation Department.  

"It's a tough decision and I wish that particular aspect was not in the budget, very frankly," he said.

Commissioner Chuck Horton concurred that it's been a difficult task to reach a consensus about the budget during such challenging economic times.

"The sky hasn't fallen but there's been a lot of cloudy skies," he said.

In related news, commissioners agreed to a voluntary early retirement program for employees 62-64-years-old  and those over the age of 65.  Twenty-seven employees are eligible to take it, but Benko expects 3-5 will actually choose to retire early.  He said he won't know the financial implications until he learns how many employees take the option, at which time he will provide a cost analysis.

The county saves about $1 million in expenses annually since nearly 20 employees accepted similar early retirement packages three years ago, Benko said. 

In another cost-saving move, commissioners suspended employer matching contributions to retirement accounts for a second consecutive year. In years past, if employees contributed a full 6 percent to their 401(a) plans, the county would pay a 3 percent match, explained Alan Theriault, administrative officer. He said the matching might resume by fiscal year 2013.

"We're hoping to come out of the doldrums," he said.

In January following the close of the second quarter, Benko plans to discuss the overall financial picture with commissioners and, if necessary, recommend amendments to the budget at that time.