Stephens County Commissioners strive to keep millage rate unchanged in FY’20

Stephens County residents will see an unchanged millage rate in Fiscal Year 2020.

That’s according to Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers, who told WNEG News on Friday, the goal of the Stephens County Board of Commissioners is not to face raising the millage rate; therefore, limiting any unnecessary use of the fund balance.

All last week, the board of commissioners met to discuss the upcoming budget, during its annual budget retreat.

During the retreat, the commissioners found that next year’s budget will be a challenge because of several issues.

The first of which, is the lack of new revenues and significant growth in overall operating revenues.

The second, according to Ayers, is the cost to fulfill the County’s Department Heads’ most requested increases; including increases in salaries to maintain competitive wages, the cost to hire additional staff, and the cost of technology upgrades.

Lastly, a significant portion of the fund balance will be spent funding the local share of W. Currahee Street, formerly Dick’s Hill Parkway, slope stabilization project.

Ayers says that the county will use $1,147,961 of the prior year’s fund balance to balance the budget; however, she adds that $790,688 of the prior year’s fund balance has been allocated to fund the remodel of the old WNEG building into the new Annex.

The funds to be used for the remodel have been tucked away for years to complete as the employees in the old Annex will be relocated.

$319,708 from FY2019’s fund balance will be used as well.

Ayers says that the county will need to use only $37,645 out of prior year fund balance that hasn’t already been pegged for a specific use.

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners will hold two public hearings before FY2020’s budget is approved in the coming weeks.

WNEG News will continue to follow this story and bring you additional details as they are released.