Habersham County, Georgia Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Guide Book
Reflecting on Fiscal Year 2018 During Fiscal Year 2018, Habersham County achieved many accomplishments that should be celebrated. 2018 is a very important year for Habersham as we celebrate our County s 200 th birthday on December 15, 2018. Throughout the calendar year of 2018, Habersham s Bicentennial Committee will be participating in events throughout the county in honor of this momentous occasion. Roads & Bridges: During FY2018, 10.32 miles of roads will have been paved and/or resurfaced. Ten bridge structures received repairs or replacement utilizing SPLOST VI funds. Sheriff s Dept./Jail/Heat The replacement of the HVAC system at the jail was completed in April 2018. Thirty mobile units have been installed in patrol vehicles, allowing deputies the ability to complete citation and report writing from their car, enabling them to spend more time in the field where they are needed. A four-year plan has also begun, which will replace the in-car camera systems in patrol vehicles. Two vehicles were added to the HEAT unit through a donation and grant funding. Landfill: During FY2018, the Landfill received a $44,070 reimbursement from EPD with the completion of its scrap tire abatement project. An access road allowing multiple off-road trucks and construction equipment to pass at one time was also completed. Five new groundwater wells were installed at the inactive Pea Ridge Landfill, and a new compactor (CAT 826K) was obtained through a lease/purchase, which will replace the current 26-year-old compactor. Compensation & Classification: Habersham County has been participating in a Classification and Compensation Study to determine the extent of disparity between County employee wages and entry-level wage market rates. Phase II of this study was implemented during FY2018 at a cost of $91,042. Administration Building Construction of the new County Administration Building is underway and is expected to be completed in February 2019. A Ground-Breaking Ceremony was held on the site of the property on Jacob s Way in Clarkesville on November 21, 2017; and a Topping-Out Ceremony was held on May 21, 2018 with Habersham County Officials, Administrators, and members of the public in attendance to sign a beam that will be used in the construction of the building.
Emergency Services Department On March 5, 2018, the Habersham County Emergency Services Department was officially created with the merger of EMS, formally under Habersham Medical Center, and the County Fire Department. The Emergency Services Dept. is now headquartered out of Station 9, the Deep Creek Fire Station, located at 4263 Hollywood Hwy, Clarkesville. A house owned by HMC, located at 125 Robertson Loop Rd., was renovated and now serves as the central base station for EMS. The County also purchased and equipped a new ambulance to add to our EMS fleet.. Animal Care and Control In March 2018 the Habersham County Animal Care and Control Department received some much-needed office space with the renovation of the former Soccer Association building located near the John B. Gesbocker Animal Shelter, paid for from the Estate of Edward Taylor Murray. This space now provides a clean and professional atmosphere for our Animal Care and Control administrative staff as well as the public. AFTER BEFORE E-911 & Emergency Management Agency Replacement of the County s E-911 telephone system began in May 2018. Updates for the current system have not been available since 2007, nor are new parts available in the event repairs are required. Several systems were reviewed and the AT&T Viper Stand-alone Phone System was chosen. This new system is compatible with next generation technology and will allow citizens to send text and picture messages to Habersham County s 911 operators.
Habersham County s FY2019 Budget contains a General Fund which is used to account for all financial resources, except those required to be accounted for in another fund. Eleven Special Revenue Funds are used to account for the proceeds of specific revenue sources that are legally, or donor restricted, to expenditures for specified purposes. One Capital Improvements Fund is used to account for financial resources to be used for the acquisition or construction of specifically planned projects. A Hospital Debt Service Fund is used to account for the accumulation of resources and payment of general government long-term debt principal and interest from governmental resources. Three enterprise funds account for all activities connected with a specific service; either Landfill, Transit, or Airport functions. Additionally, the FY2019 budget contains one Component Unit, the Development Authority, which is legally separate from Habersham County. FY2019 Budget By Fund Total $39,720,602 General Fund $22,825,743 58% CIP $6,184,635 16% Special Revenue $6,128,125 15% Component Units $73,015 0% Enterprise Fund $1,657,312 4% Hospital Debt Service $2,851,772 7% Habersham County s FY2019 General Fund Budget supports 44 departments Salaries, Benefits, and/or Operations; disbursements to eight independent agencies; a Contingency Fund, transfers to two special revenue funds, a transfer to the CIP Fund. In addition, it provides funding for implementation of Phase III of the Classification & Compensation Plan. FY2019 General Fund Expenditures by Type Total Budget $22,825,743 Operating $7,618,868 33% Salaries & Benefits $13,353,584 59% Transfers Out $867,016 4% CIP $776,370 3% Class/Comp Adjustment $29,211 0% Contingency $209,905 1%
Looking Ahead to Fiscal Year 2019 There are projects underway, and others set to soon begin, for Habersham County in the upcoming Fiscal Year. Citizens of Habersham County can look forward to the completion of the County Administration Building on Jacob s Way in Clarkesville. This central location for many of the County s departments will allow residents the convenience of one stop for any nonjudicial/non-public safety needs. Senior Center: Construction of a Senior Wellness Center adjacent to the current Senior Center in Demorest is anticipated to begin in August 2018. Roads & Bridges: The County and municipalities will be placing a referendum on the November 2018 ballot to ask voters to support a single county Roads & Bridges Improvement Program Transportation SPLOST. Funds from this TSPLOST will allow the County to resurface all roads in the county every twenty years, as opposed to the current rate of every forty years. This Roads & Bridges Improvement Program TSPLOST will also provide funding for a wide range of roads & bridges improvements, as well as other transportation needs, throughout the County. Public Safety: The FY2019 budget will allow Habersham County to become more competitive in wage provisions, especially in the area of public safety. FY2019 will see wage and staff increases, particularly in the areas of law enforcement and fire personnel. Previously the County has been experiencing high turnover in sheriff s law enforcement and jail staff. Habersham County will now be more competitive with the average wages for surrounding jurisdictions, which will increase the County s ability to attract and retain quality law enforcement, jail, and fire personnel ensuring better protection to Habersham County residents, businesses, and visitors. Habersham County Airport & Industrial Park The former Runway Fish House property, a 6.5-acre tract of land adjacent to the Habersham County Airport, was recently purchased by Habersham County. This property is now available for future expansion of the airport. The County also received approval from the FAA to proceed with the construction of the new Airport Terminal. A Groundbreaking Ceremony, to be held at the site of the future Airport Terminal on June 11, 2018. The Airport Taxiway Phase IV began on April 30, 2018 and is expected to be completed in Spring 2019. The Habersham County Industrial Park Water & Sewer Improvements Phase II, as well as grading and drainage for pads 1-4, have been completed. Bids for the grading of Industrial Park pads 5-7 were received in April 2018. The installation of a new road connecting Runway Dr. with Airport Industrial Park Rd. is also set to begin soon. The new road system is expected to be completed by Spring 2019. The Development Authority is now listing property in the Industrial Park for $45,000 an acre.
FY2019 Annual Budget Summary of Government-wide Combining All Fund Revenue, Expenditures & Other Sources (Uses) Revenues General Special Hospital CIP Enterprise Component Fund Revenue Bond Fund Fund Units Total Property Taxes $ 13,301,671 $ 597,319 $ 1,555,774 $ - $ - $ - $ 15,454,764 Motor Vehicle Tax 1,301,306 - - - - - 1,301,306 Mobile Home Tax 103,443 - - - - - 103,443 Timber Tax 3,415 - - - - - 3,415 Cost, Penalties, And Interest 85,000 - - - - - 85,000 Intangible Tax 200,000 - - - - - 200,000 Real Estate Transfer Tax 50,000 - - - - - 50,000 Franchise Tax 77,172 - - - - - 77,172 Insurance Premium Tax 1,930,444 - - - - - 1,930,444 Alcohol Excise Tax 442,466 - - - - - 442,466 Occupational Tax 112,725 - - - - - 112,725 Other 9,180 - - - - - 9,180 Building Permits 130,000 - - - - - 130,000 Other Permits 9,000 - - - - - 9,000 Fines, Fees & Forfeitures 1,012,543 296,907 - - - - 1,309,450 Fire Protection - - - - - - - Sheriff Services 50,000 - - - - - 50,000 Prisoner Board 10,000 - - - - - 10,000 Recreation Fees & Services 567,500 - - - - - 567,500 Collection Commissions 590,000 - - - - - 590,000 Other Charges For Services 290,200 2,617,000 - - 1,446,588-4,353,788 Intergovernmental 1,498,192 890,659 - - 58,773-2,447,624 Interest 5,000 - - - 5,005 12 10,017 Contributions 18,500 8,800 - - - - 27,300 Forfeitures - - - - - - - Rental Income 133,147 - - - 49,200-182,347 Miscellaneous 12,831 85,424 - - 2,400 1,200 101,855 Total Revenues 21,943,735 4,496,109 1,555,774-1,561,966 1,212 29,558,796 Expenditures General Government 6,920,932 26,000 2,651,772 5,781,773 - - 15,380,477 Judicial 3,106,067 815,003 - - - - 3,921,070 Public Safety 8,955,217 3,848,093-163,862 - - 12,967,172 Recreation & Culture 1,239,378 - - 216,500 - - 1,455,878 Housing & Development 627,725 - - 22,500-73,015 723,240 Health & Welfare 333,038 1,268,958 - - - - 1,601,996 Enterprise - - - - 1,629,532-1,629,532 Total Expenditures 21,182,357 5,958,054 2,651,772 6,184,635 1,629,532 73,015 37,679,365
Other Sources & (Uses) General Special Hospital CIP Enterprise Component Fund Revenue Bond Fund Fund Units Total Transfer In (Out) - Jail Fund 60,000 (60,000) - - - - - Transfer In (Out) - Hotel/Motel 39,000 (39,000) - - - - - Transfer In (Out) - Felony Drug 6,000 (16,000) - - - - (10,000) Transfer In (Out) - FDTC - 10,000 - - - - 10,000 Transfer In (Out) - E911 Fund (674,721) 674,721 - - - - - Transfer In (Out) - Senior Center (192,295) 192,295 - - - - - Transfer In (Out) - Hospital Debt 200,000 - (200,000) - - - - Transfer In (Out) - CIP Fund (776,370) - - 776,370 - - - Transfer in (Out) - SPLOST VI - - 1,126,016 - - 1,126,016 Appropriated Fund Balance 569,008 699,929 169,982 5,408,265 67,566 71,803 6,986,553 Sale of Assets 8,000 - - - - - 8,000 Total Other Sources & (Uses) (761,378) 1,461,945 1,095,998 6,184,635 67,566 71,803 8,120,569 Excess (Deficiency) Of Revenue And Other Sources Over Expenditures And Other Uses FY2019 Annual Budget Summary of Government-wide Combining All Fund Revenue, Expenditures & Other Sources (Uses) $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Government-wide Combining All Fund Revenue, Expenditures & Other Sources (Uses)
Habersham County Board of Commissioners, Elected Officials, and Administration Chairman Victor Anderson Vice-Chairman Natalie Crawford District 3 District 4 Stacy Hall Andrea Harper Ed Nichols District 1 District 2 District 5 Elected Officials Chan Caudell Chief Judge, Superior Court Russell W. Smith Judge, Superior Court June Black Tax Commissioner William R. Oliver Solicitor General George Christian District Attorney Gerald W. Johnson Chief Magistrate David C. Wall Clerk of Superior Court Kasey C. McEntire Coroner Joey Terrell Sheriff Pamela F. Wooley Probate Judge M. Steven Campbell Chief Judge, State Court Administration Phillip Sutton County Manager Donald Hunt Attorney Lindsay Underwood County Clerk Mike Beecham Planning and Development Director Chad Black Emergency Services Director Mike Bramlett Facilities Management Director Derick Canupp Public Works Director Nichole Carswell Judge, Juvenile Court Joan Church Chief Appraiser Kurt Cooper Parks & Recreation Director Laurel Ellison Chief Registrar & Elections Supervisor Madi Hawkins Animal Care & Control Director Kathy Holcomb Senior Center Director Heidi Hook Finance Director Steven Patrick County Extension Coordinator Beth Pelaccio Accountability Courts Director Vinitha Robinson Human Resources Director Steve Seabolt Fleet Maintenance Director Lynn Smith E-911 & Emergency Management Director Tracy Williamson Information Technology Director