By: James Pruitt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
Revenues are expected to come in a little higher next year than what was budgeted in 2016 for Fulton County.
The Board of County Commissioners convened a public hearing on the tax budget June 28. The tax budget for 2017 has to be adopted by code by July 15.
County Administrator Vond T. Hall informed the board about the projections, which are based on current year experiences. The administrator reviewed the time line for the budget process and the important dates that will come into play.
“It’s a long process,” Hall said of the time line which begins in May and runs through December.
Paying attention to revenues is a priority for Hall.
“If you don’t know how much money is coming in how can you have any handle on how much you can spend,” Hall said. “So I spent a lot of time talking with the auditor and his fiscal staff about estimated revenues.”
As a result, Hall estimates revenues will be around $12 million for 2017, up from $11.3 million budgeted for this year, but down from $13.1 million in 2015. The numbers will come into focus later in the year as final expenses and revenues, plus any carryover amount becomes known, Hall said.
Fluctuations in revenues are due mostly to the rise and fall of sales taxes, Hall said. As gas prices rise, people tend to stay closer to home to do their shopping. When prices fall, they are more willing to go elsewhere, taking their money with them.
The budget, when approved next month, will go before the Budget Commission (consisting of the prosecutor, auditor and treasurer. The review process begins the first Monday of August and ends by Sept. 1.
A final budget hearing is conducted in December. Appropriations cannot exceed revenues.
James Pruitt may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com