The White County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet later this week to adopt the county’s FY 2025 budget. Commissioners held the first of two public hearings on the budget last week.
During Thursday’s hearing, County Manager Billy Pittard detailed different aspects of the budget, including some changes in the way some budget items are classified. He also provided a detailed report on both the expenditure and revenue sides of the budget.
Commissioners are considering a $51.6 million spending plan. It includes a $32.9 million general fund budget, which is $4.9 million more than last year’s budget. The proposal largely holds spending steady while the county deals with increases in several areas. This year’s largest budgetary shift is for Parks and Recreation, with a nearly $2.6 million increase.
Pittard quickly noted that the county is constructing a new recreation center at Yonah Preserve but will be using funds they have built up for this project.
Pittard said that 74 percent of general fund revenue comes from ad valorem taxes; with the recent increase in property assessments, this will most likely result in a higher tax bill for property owners.
White County Commission Chairman Travis Turner noted the recent increase in property values and said they are trying to do everything possible to hold the line on cost.
“It’s getting a lot of our attention; I just want to let our citizens know we are trying to be very wise with our funds and how we are spending money, but just like our regular budgets, our home budgets, our personal checkbooks are getting hit by this high inflation. It’s costing us more for us to operate daily activities from the fire department, the sheriff’s department, and ambulance services; our insurance is going up. I could go through a litany of increases, but we are trying to balance other cost cuts so the citizens are not unduly overtaxed,” commented Turner.
The commissioners have yet to receive a final tax digest, but when they do, Turner says they hope they can use that to figure in a reduction in the tax millage rate.
The commissioners will hold a called meeting on Thursday, June 20, at 9 a.m., at which time the board will consider adopting the new budget.
