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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BEEFER COUNTY.
WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF COASTLINE TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THE INTEGERS AND ALL OF THE DOTS AND EYES, MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL DOTTED.
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING FINANCE.
AND OUR GUEST IS THE BUFORD, UH, DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RICHLAND, AND SHE IS JOINED BY A PINKY HARRIET, WHO IS THE BUDGET DIRECTOR FOR BUFORD COUNTY.
AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON THIS EDITION OF COASTLINE.
UH, ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS I'D LIKE TO ASK RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE IS THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT POSITIONS.
SOME ARE ELECTED, SOME ARE HIRED.
AND FOR OUR VIEWERS SAKE, PERHAPS YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME IDEA OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TREASURER, THE AUDITOR, THE ASSESSOR, AND THE BUFORD COUNTY, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR OF FINANCE.
SO WE DO HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ONE APPOINTED OFFICIAL THAT PLAYS A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR EVALUATION AND TAXATION PROCESS.
THEIR OFFICES ARE THOSE OF THE TREASURER AND THE AUDITOR AND THE ASSESSOR.
THE ASSESSOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REAL PROPERTY PIECE.
SO THINGS THAT ARE IMMOVABLE YOUR HOMES, UM, THE AUDITOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR KIND OF YOUR REMOVABLE PIECES, THINK VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT BOATS.
UM, THOSE TWO OFFICES REALLY DETERMINE THE VALUES OF THE PROPERTY THAT YOU HOLD.
UM, AND THEN FROM THERE THEY ACCUMULATE THOSE VALUES INTO A TAX ROLL OR SOME COUNTIES CALL IT A TAX DIGEST, AND THEN THE TREASURER ACTUALLY COLLECTS THOSE TAXES WHEN THEY ARE DUE.
AND SO TELL ME AGAIN, THE ASSESSOR IS THE ONE THAT SETS THE VALUATION FOR, UH, VARIOUS THINGS.
SO THAT'S THE ONE I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON RIGHT NOW BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN A STATE RIGHT NOW WHERE, UH, PROPERTY VALUES HAVE JUST GONE UP DRAMATICALLY.
SO I IMAGINE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE REVENUE THAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU'VE GOT A NICE BUDGET ALL PLANNED FOR THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, CORRECT? CERTAINLY.
NOW WHEN YOU ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT ASSESSMENT, YOU REALLY NEED TO GET THE LOWDOWN FROM THE BUFORD COUNTY ASSESSOR.
SO, UH, HERE IS EBONY SANDERS TO GIVE US ALL OF THAT INFORMATION.
THE ROLE OF THE ASSESSOR IS TO DETERMINE THE VALUATION TO LIST AND APPRAISED THE PROPERTIES IN BEAVER COUNTY.
AND WE ARE HERE TO DETERMINE THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF A PROPERTY AS OF A PACIFIC DATE WITH, FOR PURPOSES OF THE QUADRENNIAL REASSESSMENT OR THE REASSESSMENT.
AND SO WHAT WE DO IS WE ESTABLISH WHAT THE SALES A PROPERTY'S WORTH.
YOU LOOK AT THE CHARACTERISTICS AS A PROPERTY, WE CONSIDER WHAT SALES ARE OCCURRING, AND WE DECIDE THAT WHAT THE VALUATIONS ARE GOING TO BE FOR A MASS AMOUNT OF PROPERTIES.
SO WE'VE GOT A MASS GROUP OF PROPERTIES AND A MASS AMOUNT OF SALES, AND WE DETERMINE VALUES FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE PROPERTIES.
EVERY FIVE YEARS, THE BUFORD COUNTY REASSESSMENT WILL OCCUR IN TAX YEAR 2023.
OUR COUNTY CONDUCTED OUR LAST COUNTY WIDE REASSESSMENT IN 2018 TO ACHIEVE FAIRNESS AND EQUITY.
THE REAR CASESMART WILL OCCUR IN 2023 BASED ON A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE AS OF AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF DECEMBER 31ST, 2022, BECAUSE THE FAIR MARKET VALUES ARE ALWAYS CHANGING AND PROPERTY IS CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING DUE TO MARKET CONDITIONS AND FACTORS.
THE COUNTY-WIDE WE ASSESSMENT IS MANDATED TO BE CONDUCTED.
THE VALUATION DETERMINATION IS COMPLETED AT THE END OF THE FOURTH YEAR.
AND THE COUNTY ASSESSOR IS MANDATED BY LAW TO SEND NOTICES IN THE FIFTH YEAR.
AGAIN, WE ARE SCHEDULED TO MAIL THOSE NOTICES IN 2023, THE REASSESSMENT REASSESSED ALL PROPERTIES IN BUFORD COUNTY AND RESETS THE VALUATIONS BASED ON THE CURRENT MARKET.
AS OF A FIXED STATE MANDATED DATE, THERE'S A COUPLE OF RESOURCES THAT TAXPAYERS HAVE, OR JUST VISITORS THAT WANT TO VISIT OUR OFFICE.
YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBPAGE WWW DOT BUFORD COUNTY, S E G O V GO TO THE ASSESSOR TAB.
WE HAVE INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS ABOUT HOW TO SEARCH WITH SALES.
OH, WE HAVE A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE AN INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO BY LEGAL RESIDENCY, ANOTHER RESOURCES THAT YOU CAN STOP.
OUR ONE OF OUR OFFICES CURRENTLY, WE ARE AT THE BLUFFTON OFFICE AT MYRTLE PARK.
WE ALSO HAVE THE BUFORD OFFICE.
WE HAVE A PRAISES IN THE BUFORD OFFICE THAT CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS, OR YOU CAN CALL US, AND WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
SO WE'RE, WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN CONTACT US.
WE HAVE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY EMAIL US EMAIL ADDRESS.
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AND YOU'LL GET A RESPONSE FOR ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS.UM, SO THAT'S REALLY YOUR STARTING POINT.
AND THE FOUNDATION IS THE ASSESSED VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY FROM THAT A MILLAGE RATES ARE APPLIED.
AND ONCE YOU GO THROUGH THAT FORMULA, THAT ARITHMETIC, YOU DO ARRIVE AT A TAXABLE AMOUNT TO YOU AS A PROPERTY OWNER.
A MILL RATE IS JUST SIMPLY A RATE THAT IS THE THOUSANDTH OF ONE MEAL.
IT'S A THOUSAND OF THE TAXING VALUE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, UM, OURS IS 64 64 0.8.
SO FOR EVERY $1,000 IN PROPERTY VALUE, YOU WOULD PAY $1 IN TAXES MULTIPLIED OUTSIDE YOUR 64.8 MILS.
SO ON AN AVERAGE HOME OF LET'S JUST SAY $250,000.
THE TAX RATE FOR THE COUNTY WOULD PROBABLY EQUATE TO A TAX BILL OF PROBABLY AROUND MAYBE $1,500, $1,600.
AND THEN, UH, YOU AS THE BUDGET DIRECTOR, UH, YOU COME UP WITH AN ANTICIPATED AMOUNT OF REVENUE AND THEN, UH, BASED ON THAT ANTICIPATED REVENUE, UH, YOU GO AHEAD AND, UH, HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH THE VARIOUS, UH, EXPENDITURES THAT YOU PUT IN YOUR BUDGET TO DO YOU GET INPUT FROM ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS? YES, SIR.
SO, UM, OUR BUDGET PROCESS KICKS OFF IN OCTOBER WITH A BUDGET KICKOFF.
UM, WE PRELIMINARILY LOOK AT NUMBERS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND THEN, UM, WE ANTICIPATE WHAT OUR REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE FOR NEXT YEAR.
UH, WE COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS AND WE KIND OF LINE OUT WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S GOALS ARE FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR AND HAVE THEM USE THAT INFORMATION AS THEY DEVELOP THEIR BUDGETS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
UM, WE HAVE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED A NEW SOFTWARE CALLED CLAIRE GOV, WHICH IS A REALLY, UM, INTERACTIVE TOOL FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS, MYSELF, UM, ADMINISTRATION.
SO WE USE THIS SOFTWARE TO REACH OUT TO THE DEPARTMENTS.
THEY SUBMIT THEIR REQUESTS VIA THIS SOFTWARE.
AND IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS I WILL COMMUNICATE BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM BEFORE WE PRESENT TO ADMINISTRATION FOR REVIEW.
SO YES, WE WORK LARGELY WITH ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS, OUR EXTERNAL AGENCIES AND, UH, ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
SO I GUESS THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WANT TO GET ON YOUR GOOD SIDE.
CAUSE YOU'RE THE ONE THAT EVENTUALLY SAYS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.
I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO SUBMIT IT OR YOU SAY, OH YEAH, WE CAN HANDLE THIS.
I GENERALLY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SENSE OF WHETHER ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO APPROVE REQUEST OR NOT.
UM, IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR A MILLION DOLLAR, YOU KNOW, TRUCK, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO MAKE THE CUT.
NOW, UH, THE MAJORITY OF INCOME IS DERIVED FROM PROPERTY TAXES.
WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE LARGEST BUDGET ITEM, SINGULAR BUDGET ITEM WOULD BE PERSONNEL, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
UM, CURRENTLY OUR PERSONNEL PIECE IS ABOUT 65% ESTIMATE.
UM, AND, UH, OF COURSE OUR AD VALOREM TAXES IS OUR LARGEST PIECE.
AND I THINK IT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT 77%.
AND THEN OUR SECOND HIGHEST IS CHARGES FOR SERVICES OF COURSE, WHICH IS ABOUT 11%.
AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT, UH, WE ARE IN UNPRECEDENTED INFLATION RIGHT NOW, UM, DO YOU ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL BE A REQUEST FOR A SUBSTANTIAL, UH, PAY HIKE FOR, UH, VARIOUS EMPLOYEES? UM, WE KIND OF TOOK THAT INTO AN EFFECT THIS YEAR DUE TO INFLATION ADMINISTRATION.
WE KIND OF LOOKED AT IT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET PROCESS AND, UM, AND WITH COUNCIL'S COMPLETE BACKING, UH, WE IMPLEMENTED A 5% COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR ALL BEAVER COUNTY EMPLOYEES, UM, TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE IMPACTS OF OUR CURRENT INFLATION, WHICH IS LIKE YOU SAID, UNPRECEDENTED.
UM, SO TO HELP OUR EMPLOYEES KIND OF BE ABLE TO BATTLE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES THAT ARE COMING, YOU KNOW, COMBINED WITH THE RISING FUEL COSTS.
UH, WE BUILT OUR BUDGET, UM, BASED A 5% COST OF LIVING INCREASE FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY BE A PAY CUT THEN BECAUSE INFLATION IS RUNNING AROUND 11%.
SO HOPEFULLY THE COUNCIL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THOSE NUMBERS, MAKE THEM HIGHER OR LOWER, UH, OR DOES THAT FALL UNDER, UH, WELL FOR VARIOUS REASONS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, WE REVIEW THE BUDGET ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND IF WE ANTICIPATE AS WE GET IN 22, THAT WE WILL HAVE A SURPLUS, WE CAN ALWAYS GO, I WOULD OF COURSE, TALK TO ADMINISTRATION VERSUS BEFORE, AND THEN WE CAN ALWAYS PRESENT TO FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THEN COUNCIL, UH, IF WE WANT TO DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT'S NORMALLY DONE MID YEAR.
SO THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, IN FISCAL YEAR 22, WHEN WE BUILT THE BUDGET, UM, WE BUILT THE BUDGET ON GAS PRICES.
WE DID NOT ANTICIPATE THREE MONTHS LATER THAT GAS PRICES WILL BE THROUGH THE ROOF.
SO THAT'S A PRIME EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO, UH, DURING, UH, DURING A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
UM, IF THE NEED FOR, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT CHANGE, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO BRING.
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TALKED ABOUT SURPLUS AND THAT KIND OF BRINGS ME TO ANOTHER QUESTION.UM, UH, IS YOUR BUDGET STRUCTURED, UM, AS USE IT OR LOSE IT? UH, IN OTHER WORDS, UM, IF LET'S SAY THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT IS BUDGETED, UH, ALLOCATED $2 MILLION, UH, BUT THEY ONLY SPEND 1.7 MILLION, UM, DOES $300,000 CARRY OVER TO THE NEXT YEAR OR IS THIS A, LIKE A ZERO BASED BUDGET? UM, IT IS A PROGRAM BASED BUDGET IS WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET SPECIFICALLY.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE, UH, VARIOUS FUNDS IN, UH, GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING.
SO BEFORE OUR GENERAL FUND, NO, SARAH, THAT, THAT, THAT $300,000 WOULD THEN COME BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE.
UM, SO YES, MOST OF MY DEPARTMENT HEADS LIVED BY THAT, USE IT OR LOSE IT KIND OF MENTALITY BECAUSE IF THEY WANT TO GET SOMETHING COMPLETED, OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A CUTOFF THAT WE HAVE FOR PURCHASING AS WELL, UH, THAT WE WERE TRYING TO MEET SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE INVOICES AND THINGS ARE PAID IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SO, UM, IF IT'S NOT ABLE AND IT DOESN'T GET APPROVED FOR THE CARRY OVER, WE WILL NOT ROLL IT FORWARD INTO THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, OTHER FUNDS DO ALLOW US TO, UH, WHAT WE CONSIDER MULTI-YEAR FUNDS LIKE OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND, AND SOME OF OUR OTHER TYPES OF FUNDS ALLOW FOR ROLLOVERS INTO THE NEXT YEAR, BUT GENERALLY OUR GENERAL FUND AND OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS DO NOT.
AND, UH, HOW STRICT ARE THE GUIDELINES FOR THESE BUDGETS IN TERMS OF, UM, IF SOMETHING HAS BEEN BUDGETED $50,000 FOR WIDGETS IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, UH, AND THEY ACTUALLY NEED MORE SPROCKETS, CAN THEY TAKE PART OF THAT $50,000 AND APPLY IT TO SPROCKETS? ABSOLUTELY.
SO THAT'S A PART OF, UH, WHAT THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT WE MONITOR, UH, DEPARTMENT BUDGETS.
AND IF THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WHERE, YOU KNOW, UM, INVOICE CAME IN HIGHER THAN THEY EXPECTED IT TO BE, OF COURSE, WITH COSTS RISING, THAT'S HAPPENING A LOT THIS FISCAL YEAR, UM, SIMPLY PUT, WE JUST DO A LINE ITEM TRANSFER.
WE CONSIDER THAT A BUDGET AMENDMENT, INTERNAL BUDGET TRANSFER THAT WE CAN MOVE MONEY FROM, FOR INSTANCE, MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS TO SUPPLIES OR VICE VERSA.
SO WE DEPARTMENT HAVE DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE MONEY AROUND WITHIN THEIR DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS.
AND WE PROCESS THOSE OVER IN THE BUDGET DEPARTMENT.
ALL RIGHT, NOW OUR, UH, REVIEWS BASED ON, UH, PARTIALLY HOW WELL DEPARTMENT HEADS, UH, STICK TO THEIR BUDGET, UH, OR COME UNDER BUDGET.
UH, HOW DOES THAT ALL WORK? THE RADIO OF THE BUDGETS? WELL, THE REVIEW OF PERSONNEL, FOR EXAMPLE, IS THERE AN YEAH, IS THERE AN INCENTIVE, UH, FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO, UM, STAY AT OR BELOW BUDGET, UH, IN ORDER TO GET A BETTER, UH, PERSONNEL REVIEW? NO, SIR.
I DON'T THINK THAT IS FACTORED EXPLICITLY IN OUR EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS.
WE DO EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT THEY'VE BEEN GOOD FISCAL STEWARDS.
UM, SO MAYBE THAT VERBIAGE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT THERE'S NOT FOR EXAMPLE, ANY KIND OF MONETARY INCENTIVE THAT SAYS, OKAY, IF YOU STAYED WITHIN 95% OF YOUR BUDGET OR 97 OR 99% OF YOUR BUDGET, THEN YOU KNOW, YOU WILL RECEIVE THIS SCORE ON YOUR EVALUATION AND ARE THEREFORE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY KIND OF EMPLOYEE INCREASE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN.
HOWEVER, IN THE BROAD CONTEXT OF THE COUNTY IT'S FUNDING AND EMPLOYEES AS A WORKFORCE, TO THE EXTENT THAT OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS DO MANAGE THEIR INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS WELL, AND THERE IS A REMAINING BALANCE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT CAN THEN BE LATER RETURNED BACK TO OUR WORKFORCE IN THE FORM OF A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
AND WHEN WE CAN DO THAT, WE LIKE TO DO THAT, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THE 5% COLA THIS, THIS YEAR.
BUT, UM, TO DIRECTLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THERE'S NO MONETARY INCENTIVE FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS TO PERFORM WELL AND RECEIVE AN INCREASE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M NOT, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING? YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY TO, TO ADD TO WHAT WE NEED YOU TO SAY, WE DO ENCOURAGE OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS TO ACTIVELY MONITOR THEIR BUDGETS.
OF COURSE, WE WANT TO AVOID ANY SITUATION OF WHERE OUR DEPARTMENT HAS OVEREXTENDED, UM, DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, DIFFERENT STORY, BUT YES, OVERALL WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO ACTIVELY MONITOR THEIR BUDGET, BUT JUST TO ADD ON TO WHAT WE KNEW IS THAT OKAY? YEAH.
AND A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE, LET'S JUST SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR, UM, EMS CREWS ARE RESPONDING TO A CALL AND ON THE WAY TO THE CALL, THEY GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.
ANOTHER CAR REAR ENDS THEM, OR T-BONES THEM, WHICH I'VE SEEN ACTUALLY HAPPEN OUT ON HIGHWAY 21, YOUR, THE SHANKLIN, UH, ROAD.
UM, IN THAT INSTANCE, IF THAT AMBULANCE IS TOTALED, UM, THERE MAY BE SOME INSURANCE PROCEEDS THAT WILL HELP COVER THE COST OF THAT AMBULANCE, BUT THEY'RE NEVER, UM, ENOUGH TO PURCHASE A NEW AMBULANCE IN ITS ENTIRETY.
AND THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO LAST YEAR.
SO SINCE WE HAD NOT BUDGETED FOR
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THAT AMBULANCE TO BE REPLACED IN THE YEAR, BUT THEY HAD TO REPLACE ONE, IT CALLS THEIR BUDGET TO BE, UM, IN ACCESS OF THAT PARTICULAR LINE ITEM.SO THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN, THE UNFORESEENS, THE UNPLANNED, THE UNKNOWNS, NONE OF US HAS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A CRYSTAL BALL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO ANTICIPATE THE FUTURE.
BUT WE REALLY RELY ON OUR HEALTHY FINANCIAL POSITION AND OUR FUND BALANCE TO HEDGE OURSELVES IN THOSE INSTANCES SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO TAXPAYERS AND SAY, HEY, WE REALLY NEED TO HIKE YOUR TAXES NEXT YEAR.
A FUN BALANCE IS, UH, IS REALLY, UH, SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN, UH, KIND OF IN THE NEWS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IN TERMS OF RESERVE.
UM, HOW IS THE BUFORD COUNTY FUND BALANCE? IS IT WHERE THE POWERS THAT BE WOULD LIKE IT RIGHT NOW? I WOULD SAY SO WE HAVE, UM, BY ORDINANCE A MINIMUM FUND BALANCE THAT WE MUST MAINTAIN IN PARTICULAR, UM, THE SUMMER AND FALL SEASON WHEN, UM, NO, SIR, I BELIEVE OURS IS SOMEWHERE AROUND THE 30%, 30% MARK, 28% MARK.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER AND FALL IS THAT'S WHEN YOUR STORMS ARE MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ORDER TO RESPOND TO THE EFFECTS OF THE STORM, PARTICULARLY AFTERWARDS WITH THE DEBRIS CLEANUP AND THE REMOVAL, UM, THE RESTORATION OF FACILITIES, UM, BACK TO BEING USABLE, THAT CAN INCUR A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF EXPENSE.
UM, AND SO IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO, TO CONDUCT THOSE CLEANUP EFFORTS WITHOUT HAVING TO LET'S JUST SAY ISSUE A TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE, UM, BECAUSE AT THAT TIME PROPERTY TAXES WILL NOT HAVE BEEN COLLECTED IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT COUNTIES LIKE BUFORD, WHO ARE, UM, SUBJECT OR VERY, UM, LIKELY TO HAVE THESE TYPES OF STORMS OCCUR.
IT'S VERY, UM, CRUCIAL OR IMPERATIVE THAT THEY HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE FROM WHICH TO PULL, UM, TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES DURING THAT PERIOD.
NOW, AS PART OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, A DECISION MAKING OF WHAT TO DO WITH THE, UH, FUND BALANCE WHILE IT'S JUST SITTING THERE, LIKE, DO YOU INVEST IT IN ANYTHING? UM, UH, W W TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
UM, ACTUALLY OUR TREASURER HOLDS THAT RESPONSIBILITY, UM, AND SHE DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THAT.
UM, WE ARE INVOLVED WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL OR BY, UM, THE COUNTIES MONIES ARE POOLED COLLECTIVELY, AND THEY DO RECEIVE A RATE OF RETURN THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO WHAT THE MARKET IS YIELDING.
UM, WE HAVE SEEN BETTER RETURNS AND BETTER YEARS.
UM, THE LAST TWO FISCAL YEARS, OUR INVESTMENT INCOME HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY.
UM, THAT'S JUST A RESULT OF THE MARKETS.
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT THE COUNTIES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO INVEST IN, AND THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THOSE.
YOU WANT TO PLAY IT SAFE AND UNDERSTANDABLE.
WELL, TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SOME OF THESE OTHER, UM, REVENUE SOURCES, REVENUE STREAMS, UH, YEAH, WE'VE GOT, YOU SAID PROPERTY TAXES BY AND LARGE MAKE UP THE BULK OF YOUR INCOME, BUT WHAT ARE, WHERE ELSE DO YOU GET SOME, UH, FUND FUNDING? UH, OF COURSE WE HAVE CHARGES FOR SERVICES, THINGS THAT WE PROVIDE, UH, ALL GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES.
AND WE HAVE, UH, FINES AND FORFEITURES, AS WINNIE MENTIONED, OUR INTEREST INCOME IS NOT VERY GOOD AT THE MOMENT, BUT HOPEFULLY IT WILL START TO CLIMB A LITTLE BIT MORE AND GET SOMEWHAT BACK TO NORMAL.
NO, WELL, MY STOCKBROKER TOLD ME THAT MY SAVINGS ACCOUNT HAS GONE FROM A HALF PERCENT TO ABOUT 2.5% NOW.
SO YEAH, THOSE ARE, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND WE ALSO HAVE TRANSFERS IN FROM OTHER FUNDS.
SO WE RECEIVE FOR INSTANCE, UM, ADMINISTRATIVE, UM, SERVICES FROM THE ENTERPRISE FUND THAT THEY'LL PROVIDE TRANSFERS INTO OUR GENERAL FUND TO HELP FUND SOME OF THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE OUR OTHER FUNDS.
SO THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR OTHER REVENUE SOURCES.
THE GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE, UM, FINANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, HUMAN RESOURCES, OUR LEGAL TEAM, OUR CLERK TO COUNSEL'S OFFICE, ALL OF WHOM PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THESE OTHER FUNDS WHERE EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING IN OPERATIONS ARE BEING CONDUCTED.
THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN FINANCE STAFF, FOR EXAMPLE, OR THEIR OWN STAFF ATTORNEY TO GO TO FOR ADVICE WHEN THEY NEED LEGAL ADVICE OR THEIR OWN HUMAN RESOURCES FOLKS TO RECRUIT, UM, EMPLOYEES AND WALK THEM THROUGH THE ONBOARDING PROCESS OR TO STAND BY THEM YEAR ROUND WHEN THEY HAVE CHANGES IN THEIR BENEFITS ELECTIONS.
SO, BECAUSE THAT IS HOUSED PRIMARILY UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF ADMINISTRATION AND THE GENERAL FUNDS, THOSE FUNDS WHO ARE RECEIVING THAT BENEFIT WILL PROVIDE A SMALL ADMINISTRATIVE FEEDBACK TO THE GENERAL FUND TO SUPPORT THAT.
ALL RIGHT, NOW I WAS GOING TO ADD TO THAT SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVE ARE GRANT FUNDS.
OF COURSE, DENVER WANT TO LEAVE OUT GRANTS.
THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, AS OF COURSE, THE ARPA HAS BEEN A BIG TOPIC OF CONVERSATION, BUT WE HAVE, MOST OF OUR GRANTS ARE IN SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS, BUT THEY'RE RESTRICTED FOR THAT SPECIFIC USE.
SO THAT DOES IT'S MOST OF THE TIME NOT ALLOWED TO BE CO-MINGLED WITH GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.
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WE SAID THAT THE LARGEST, UH, LINE ITEM IS PROBABLY PERSONNEL.UM, THE SECOND LARGEST LINE ITEM IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE, UH, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S, UH, REQUEST TO YOU GUYS, RIGHT? BECAUSE THEY FALL UNDER YOUR PURVIEW.
THEY HAVE TO GO TO YOU TO GET THEIR BUDGET NUMBERS, RIGHT.
WE DON'T INCORPORATE THEIR EXPENDITURES WITHIN OUR BUDGET.
THEY DO HAVE, WE ARE TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES, UM, BUT THEY HAVE STATUTORILY, STATUTORILY.
THEY DO PRESENT THEIR BUDGET TO OUR COUNTY COUNCIL.
UM, AND THEN COUNTY COUNCIL MAKES A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT THEIR REQUEST, UM, SEEMS, SHALL WE SAY REASONABLE AND NECESSARY TO FUND THE OPERATIONS OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO LEVY THEIR OWN MILLAGE, UM, IN SUPPORT OF OPERATIONS AND DEBT FOR LET'S JUST SAY, NEW SCHOOLS.
HAS THAT ALL TAKEN PLACE FOR THE COMING YEAR? YEAH.
UM, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PRESENTED THEIR BUDGET AT OUR MAY, UH, FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING AND ALSO AT OUR, UM, MAY 23RD COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THAT WAS ALL APPROVED BY COUNCIL AT FIRST RATING WENT WELL.
THERE WAS NO, NO CONTEST, NO CONTENTION FOR FIRST READING.
SO THE OVERALL BUDGET NEEDS TO HAVE A THIRD AND FINAL READING.
THEN WHEN DOES THAT TAKE PLACE? OUR SECOND, SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING IS ON JUNE 13TH COMING UP, UM, AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THEN OUR FINAL, THIRD AND FINAL READING WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET WILL BE ON JUNE 27.
AND YOU, YOU SAID, UH, PUBLIC HEARING, DOES THE PUBLIC HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS? ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S, UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT HAVING THREE READINGS FOR AN ORDINANCE IS ANY, ANY QUESTIONS OR THINGS THAT MAY ARISE THAT THE PUBLIC WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT? UM, THEY'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO COME TO OUR JUNE 13TH MEETING AND, UH, ASK QUESTIONS AND WE WILL BE THERE TO PRESENT THE ANSWERS WELL, THIS NOVEMBER, UH, ASIDE FROM ALL OF THE CANDIDATES, UH, THERE'S GOING TO BE A QUESTION ON THE BALLOT FOR A SALES TAX OP OPPORTUNITY, I BELIEVE AT ONE SENSE, TRANSPORTATION, SALES TAX, UM, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE, UH, DESIRED FUNDING PER PLANS IF THAT PASSES? SO IF THAT OCCURS, UM, AND THE QUESTION IS INDEED PROPOSED, UM, ON THE BALLOT AND ASK OF OUR CITIZENS, UM, WITH IT BEING A PENNY SPECIFICALLY FOR TRANSPORTATION TYPE PROJECTS, UM, LARGELY IT WOULD GO TO HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES.
UM, THERE IS A SMALL PIECE THAT'S CUT OUT FOR GREEN SPACE SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST THROWING DOWN CHUNKS OF CONCRETE EVERYWHERE WITHOUT PRESERVING, UH, THE GREEN AND THE COUNTY AND THE VIEWS THAT WE HAVE.
BUT BY AND LARGE, IT IS VERY, UM, RESTRICTED STATUTORILY TO TRANSPORTATION TYPE PROJECTS.
IT COULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO, UM, IN THE AGE OF TECHNOLOGY WITH THINGS LIKE IPADS AND APPS KIND OF CONTROLLING OUR WORLD, UM, TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION IS ALSO BEING UPDATED WITH TECHNOLOGY.
SO THERE ARE SMART SIGNALS THAT CAN DETECT, UH, THE FLOWS OF TRAFFIC, UM, THAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO TO HELP WITH TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY ON OUR BUSIER ROAD.
SO THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO ELIGIBLE, UM, ACQUISITION OF RIGHT OF WAY TO EXPAND ROADS.
UH, DIRT ROAD PAVING WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD, WOULD LOOK INTO.
SO THERE ARE, UM, VARIOUS AND SUNDRY WAYS THAT THAT MONEY, MONEY COULD BE USED.
THEY CAME AND REPAVED MY ROAD OR MY, THE ROAD LEADING UP TO MY AREA THERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
AND, UM, HOPEFULLY OTHER PEOPLE WILL, AND YOU GUYS TRY AND BALANCE THE, UH, UH, THE OUTLAY OF THOSE FUNDS TO BOTH THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH BROAD RIGHT.
ABSOLUTELY TAX ADVISORY AGAIN.
WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY IT IS INDEED A COUNTYWIDE TEXT, SO IT'S NOT A TEXT THAT JUST NORTH OF THE BORDERS PAY OR JUST SOUTH OF THE BORDERS PAY.
SO THE BENEFIT FOR THOSE PROJECTS WILL BE COUNTY-WIDE AND YOU WOULD SEE A DISTRIBUTION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER.
AND IF PEOPLE HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, UH, WHO CAN THEY CONTACT ABOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS BUDGETS AND, OH, ABSOLUTELY.
UM, I BELIEVE THERE'S A, THERE'S A COMMITTEE THAT PUT TOGETHER A PROJECT LIST AND PRESENTED IT TO COUNCIL, WHICH WILL BE FUNDED IF, IF, UH, SAID PENNY SALES TAX IS APPROVED, THAT'S THE LIST OF PROJECTS AND IT WILL BE RANKED IN PRIORITY OF WHICH OWN, UH, NEEDS THE MOST, UM, THAT LIST IS WHAT WAS, WHAT BACK TO THIS, UM, TRANSPORTATION TAX.
SO, UM, IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, I DO BELIEVE THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT COMMITTEE WAS DEAN MOSS.
UM, HE AND A GROUP OF CITIZENS AND SOME OF OUR ENGINEERING FOLKS GOT TOGETHER, OR I BELIEVE ACA, UH, OF INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD BE JARED FÉLIX WOULD BE A GREAT PERSON TO CONTACT.
WELL, WHITNEY RICHLAND, WHO IS THE DEPUTY
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COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IN FOR BUFORD COUNTY AND PINKY HARRIET, WHO IS THE BUDGET DIRECTOR, AND ALSO WORKING ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US ON THIS EDITION OF COASTLINE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF COASTLINE.
WE HOPE YOU'LL BE HERE AGAIN NEXT MONTH, WHEN WE HAVE ANOTHER EXCITING GUEST, THE COUNTY CHANNEL IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON VIDEO, ON DEMAND, GO TO BUFORD COUNTY S C.GOV, SCROLL DOWN TO PUBLIC MEETINGS, CLICK WATCH NOW, AND THEN CLICK THE VIDEO ON DEMAND BUTTON AND SELECT YOUR PROGRAM FROM MELISSA CALL TO ORDER IF YOU'D LIKE A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CLICK ON THE LINK ON THE RIGHT AND FILL OUT THE ORDER FORM.
AND THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
THE ONE-STOP SHOP IS LOCATED IN ADMINISTRATION, BUILDING ON THE SECOND FLOOR IN ROOM 2 25 FOR THE ONE-STOP SHOP.
YOU HAD TO GO UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS, AND POSSIBLY ONCE YOU WERE UPSTAIRS, YOU HAD TO GO BACK DOWNSTAIRS TO SEE ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.
SO WITH A ONE-STOP SHOP, WE CONSOLIDATED THOSE.
SO IT'S ONE LOCATION, THE BUSINESS LICENSE DEPARTMENT AND THE BUILDING CODES DEPARTMENT.
IT'S LITERALLY ONE STOP FOR YOUR PERMITTING AND LICENSING.
UM, SARAH ROCK CLERK, THE COUNSEL FOR BEAVER COUNTY COUNCIL THAT, YOU KNOW, BUFORD COUNTY HAS 29 ACTIVE HOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS SERVE A VITAL ROLE IN BUFORD COUNTY AND ALLOW CITIZENS LIKE YOU TO GET INVOLVED WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ADVISE YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES.
MEMBERS SERVE IN A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES FROM ADVISING COUNCIL REGARDING THE SELLING AND PURCHASING OF LAND HEARING APPEALS, ALLOCATING TAX MONIES, ADVOCATING FOR SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS, WORKING ON STORM WATER RELATED ISSUES, ZONING ISSUES, DESIGN REVIEW, HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, YOU NAME IT.
VISIT WWW DOT BUFORD COUNTY, SC.GOV/COUNCIL/BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TODAY TO SEE A LIST OF OUR ACTIVE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND FILL OUT AN APPLICATION SIGN UP TODAY.
SO YOU CAN HAVE A HAND IN MAKING OUR COMMUNITY EVEN GREATER THAN IT ALREADY IS.
THIS IS THE SALT MARSH, ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND PRODUCTIVE HABITATS ON EARTH.
IT'S HOME TO AN INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY OF MARINE, INVERTEBRATES FISH, AND EVEN REPTILE SPECIES LIKE THIS DIAMOND.
PACTERA MANY OF THE ANIMALS THAT LIVE HERE, GROW UP IN THE SPAR TYNA NURSERY BEFORE THEY MOVE INTO THE RIVERS SOUNDS AND OPEN OCEAN.
JOIN US FOR COASTAL KINGDOM, A FIELD TRIP TO THE LOW COUNTRY, AND A CHANCE TO MEET SOME OF THE ANIMALS THAT LIVE HERE.
ONE IN THREE ADULTS AS PRE-DIABETES.
THAT MEANS IT COULD BE YOU, YOUR DOG WALKER, YOUR CAT JOGGER WITH EARLY DIAGNOSIS.