The declining economy has hit Banks County government with commissioners approving a hiring and purchasing freeze that is effective immediately.
Commissioner Rickey Cain made the motion for the freeze because of declining county revenue. Joe Barefoot agreed and the motion passed unanimously.
“Just because they have a budget doesn’t mean they have to use it,” Cain said.
The BOC also agreed to ask department heads to cut their fiscal year 2010 budgets by 10 percent. The commissioners will begin meeting with department heads in March to discuss next year’s budget.
“Given the fact that the revenues are showing a decline, instruct the department heads as they prepare their budgets for fiscal year 2010 to bring the proposals in 10 percent less than the current budget to anticipate these shortfalls if revenue does not to improve,” Barefoot said. “…If they can’t bring a budget back with those numbers, don’t bring one,” Barefoot said. “We’ll do it for you.”
Cain added, “It is going to hurt…but a lot of people don’t have a job.”
So far this fiscal year, revenue for the county is down $1.1 million. However, it was pointed out that all of the property tax revenue has not come in yet.
Why has this story not been covered by Main Street news? That's right folks less then a month into office and Milton and his clan at the BOC already have blood on there hands !
Just some good ole boys...from Banks County Ga !
RECALL !!!!
I have too back Joe on this...How was John Creasey hired as'Public Safety Director" an unbudgeted position created just for him???
That's called abuse of Power Mr.Dalton and maybe the GBI should investigate this whole mess from the beginning.
Would an independent investigation find that several official or unofficial meetings took place before Mr.Dalton took office ?
Did the Banks county BOC advertise the Public Safety coordinator position ?? If not they appointed a salaried managerial position without a job description ! Open your eyes Banks County...nothing more then political payback and campaign promise by your chairman.
Time for the Mainstreet news to do some digging into this mess.
would have to have intelligent people in office to have morals. I have seen no intelligence in years. And Homer's leaders are worse than Banks! I guess that after work todie (Mr. Mayor??) is more desired than growth, say a supermarket? But then pretty new sidewalks and street lamps are a nice touch.
I beg to differ - where do you work? The majority of people must drive outside the county, I must drive over an hour so yes Wal-marts 15 mile rt is far. And to drive 3 miles to Homer to a Quality Foods or Ingles would really be nice - A few bricks and light posts will do very little good I'm afraid.
This town had more business 30 years ago! It even had a dentist!! Where do people go now? I'd much rather spend my money in Homer but am forced to take my tax dollars to Cornelia or Commerce. Don't you think tax dollars to Homer/Banks is more valuable than bricks and lamp posts?
It's mentality like this that keeps Homer a dead little town with no 'out of box' thinking, and 'as is' is just fine.
did, just as Georgia has it's higest unemployment in a 25
year history, just when Banks County reports it's largest
foreclosure in history. Come on, commissioners, just raise
those damn taxes some more! Maybe Margaret can loose some
more funds!!!
Who is in charge of looking at this report?
Ohhhh it doesn't really matter, because being a previous government employee I know for a FACT that they keep such positions to put their "GO to People" in.
Been there seen that.
You've hit the nail on the head and wasn't even aiming! Homer, has been a dead town for years. Because the leaders can't think... Compare Hiawassee and Homer. Homer was larger than Hiawassee 25 years ago, but now? Homer is still a dead little burg while towns all around grow. Lula, Lavonia, Jefferson, Brasleton, even Nicholson is growing. Homer, is in a coffin, waiting to be buried. Growth will come but it'll ride the coattails of the 441 bypass. While this growth flurishes up 441 Homer will reek of history, delapitated buildings, and leaking roofs while the citizens relish in it's 'Mayberry atmosphere' but least we forget even Mayberry had a supermarket, theater AND a funeral parlor!!.