Keeping on top of financial issues for municipalities is a challenge. These articles will help you do just that.
Comments [Add Comment]
Grand Traverse County, Michigan, May Eliminate Approximately 40 Positions.
WWTV-TV Cadillac, MI (8/18) reported, "Nearly 40 positions in Grand Traverse County are targeted for elimination in the next year's budget that was presented to the county board Wednesday. The county must cut about three million dollars from its budget. Every county department has reluctantly spent the last few weeks identifying what areas to trim." The article notes the larger departments "face the deepest cuts," noting "the sheriff's office is proposing to layoff 13 workers, including four road deputies and six corrections officers in the jail." Dennis Aloia, County Administrator, stated, "They were all given a target and most every department met those targets." Additionally, "Laying off six corrections officers would force the county to make changes in the jail. The jail administrator says they would have to close one entire wing of the jail, among other changes. Closing the wing may be possible now because of a drop an inmates, but that could change in a moments notice."
Clermont County, Ohio, Budget Better Than Expected.
The Cincinnati Enquirer (8/18, Brunsman) reported, "Clermont County revenues are expected to continue to decline in 2011, but commissioners don't plan to dip as deeply into reserves to cover expenses as they have this year." County Commissioner Bob Proud stated, "We're seeing sales tax revenues increasing and we're seeing more residential building permits, which is a good sign that the economy is starting to turn around," adding that the county "cannot fool ourselves into thinking that it's going to improve drastically in one year, so that's why we're being cautious." The city's "operating revenues dropped more than $514,500 through July of this year, to slightly more than $27 million from more than $27.5 million for the same period in 2009. But the 1.9 percent decline in revenues was less than the 4.6 percent that had been anticipated, budget director Sukie Scheetz said." According to Scheetz ,the county's 2011 operating revenues should be around $46.4 million.
Horry County, South Carolina, Utilizing One-Cent Sales Tax For Schools.
WMBF-TV Myrtle Beach, SC (8/18, Lowry) reported, "School officials said students in Horry county are benefiting from the millions of dollars a local-option 1 cent sales tax generates. The money is divided between three areas including the Horry County School District, Horry Georgetown Technical College and Coastal Carolina University." Will Garland, chairman of the board for Horry County Schools explained "a big chunk of the cash pays down debt on school buildings. Also, when people decided to vote for the one cent sales tax, part of the deal was to lower property taxes for homeowners." Garland said, "Since that property tax mileage just disappeared, the 1 cent sales tax is taking the place of that property tax to pay for that debt." The article notes taxes first "went from 28 mils to 20 mils. Since then, it has gone from 20 to 14 mils. For example, if a person has a $100,000 home, you save about $56."
Atlanta Transportation Tax Would Help State Mass Transit Projects.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (8/18, Hart) reported, "If the Atlanta region votes itself a transportation sales tax in 2012, the state would allow a big chunk of the tax revenue to go toward mass transit in addition to roads. That's according to guidelines drafted by the state transportation planning director, Todd Long, an appointee of Gov. Sonny Perdue." Because of a law passed this year, "regional and state officials will draw up a list of projects within the Atlanta region. Then citizens will vote on the list and on a 1 percent sales tax in the region to fund it. The tax could bring in well over $5 billion over 10 years". Mass transit supporters "hailed a regional sales tax as an opportunity to keep money within the region rather than subsidizing the rest of the state." Still, this money will not be enough for all the needed projects, leading to "preferred projects on the list."
