City of Toccoa Ends Fiscal 2019 in Good Financial Shape

The City of Toccoa ended its fiscal year on a high note.

At Monday night’s City Commission meeting, Finance Director Becky Bohannon went over the fiscal year-end figures.

Toccoa’s 2019 fiscal year ended June 30 and the new fiscal year for 2020 began July 1.

Bohannon said the City ended the fiscal year in good financial shape.

“Cash on Hand in June ended at $7,203,888 most of that was in SPLOST at $3,719,693  and reserves were $3,197,475. We had $286,720 in operating,” she said.

Bohannon said the City was able to make a number of purchases out of their General Fund, including the purchase of a new police vehicle and two in-car camera systems for police.

The City also replaced the roof on the Fernside Fire Department and purchased four air packs for the Fire department.

Bohannon said in Fiscal 2019, the City also received a number of grants.

Three were arts grants that went specifically for events at the Ritz Theatre, and Bohannon said three more grants helped pay for city improvements.

“Also in the grant funds we had the Historic Preservation Fund Grant for Phase II of the Historic Resources Survey, and the Tourism Product Development Grant for downtown Wayfinding Signage. Those signs that you will notice around downtown,” she noted. “And the USDA Rural Business Grant for the Ritz Theatre balcony and dressing rooms. Both of those are almost complete.”

Bohannon told the Commission over the past fiscal year, the City added three trucks for the Gas Utility department, relocated natural gas lines along US Highway 441 in North Carolina, and bought a crawler camera and trailer for gravity sewers for the Water Department.

Finally, Bohannon said improvements at Lake Toccoa continue, including pier and pavilion construction, as well as the construction of walking trails.

She said the City also paid for upgraded computers and software for the Event Center.