Commissioners Say Tentative Millage Would Cover Deficit and Rebuild Fund Balance

During Thursday evening's second millage public hearing, commissioners returned to the fund-balance and credit-rating arguments behind the tentative countywide rate of 13.139 mills.

Cheng said the county's current fund balance is difficult to pin down while the audit is unfinished but looks to be about $12 million. A commissioner said Association County Commissioners of Georgia guidance calls for maintaining about 25% — roughly three months of operations — and that a healthy balance matters when the county bonds for a public safety complex.

Another commissioner said the board faces both a budget deficit and a fund balance that has been drawn down over recent years. He said the tentative rate would cover the deficit and begin rebuilding the balance, which he linked to borrowing costs on a large public safety facility and to avoiding tax anticipation notes for year-end spending. Commissioners also noted the board took the rollback rate for several recent years and that the tentative rate under review matches the 2023 countywide rate.

No millage rate was adopted at the hearing. Final action remains scheduled for the Oct. 13 meeting after the remaining public hearings.