While I wish I were wrong, I've learned that when it comes to finance, the numbers rarely lie.  However, if you want to hide things, it works for a while (ask the folks at Enron).  The last term of commissioners, consisting of three current commissioners, Pennamon, Hill, and Bernard, were given financial statements by their CFO that were incorrect (the numbers “lied”), and they used them to overspend by over a million dollars in 2008. 

These 3 never questioned why revenues “didn’t matter.”  They never questioned the CFO and County Manager who gave them the numbers.  They never questioned the County Manager when the only CD the county had was cashed in.  They never questioned anything because they didn’t understand the figures, and I contend they still don’t. 

During 2008, these 3 also set the 2009 budget at $9,600,000.  I bet none of them could tell you how they arrived at that number or why.  They had no idea what was even in the line items of the budget they adopted.  The reason is, they had someone else do it for them.  They weren’t part of the process at all.  They just voted on it, and then when it didn’t turn out right, they had someone to blame—the CFO and County Manager. 

However, they are all financial experts now.  According to Jack Bernard’s latest email, each of them has independently come to the conclusion that I have fudged the numbers on the 2010 budget for my personal agenda. 

I do wonder how these 3 figured this out on their own when all they have talked about for the last 3 months is “the bad data” they are getting and they have no idea where we are.  They all talked about the “bad data” at the Town Hall meeting, and how the CFO they want to hire will cure all the financial problems by giving them “good data.”

 Let me tell you how I “fudged” the numbers.  Even before I was elected and took office in January 2009, I stated numerous times the budget was going to be over by $1,000,000.  The rest of the new board, including Comm. Pennamon, Comm. Hill, and Comm. Payne, all pooh-poohed that notion.  It wasn’t until the auditor presented the FACTS that the 2008 revenues came in at only $7,900,000—not the $9,200,000 projected in the 2008 budget and the county had overspent $1,080,000. 

Then all of a sudden everyone got on board to cut the budget to $8,200,000.  No one liked doing it, but in order to keep from overspending again, it had to be done.  It was also decided we’d see just how far behind we were and agreed to borrow up to $1.5 million. 

In September 2009 the BOC had to borrow money to make payroll.  We continued borrowing into December for a total of $1.3 million.  Another $500,000 was used of “new” money being collected from tax bills due 12/22/09 in order to pay the final payroll and bills.  It wasn’t until the end of the year that we had enough money from tax collections to pay off the $1.3 million and the $13,000 of interest.

So during 2009 we used about $1.8 million of money being collected that was meant for use in 2010.  Of the $8.2 million budget about 21% had to be borrowed.  Again, here’s where the “fudged” numbers come in.  If you don’t want to keep borrowing money, you have to spend less than you bring in!!   

The $7.5 million suggested budget took into account the money the BOC continues the borrow from the next year as well as the DECLINING TAX DIGEST that will bring in less money unless the millage rate is raised.  

The $7.5 million budget started the process of building a fund that would help us come back to spending what we are taking it; it would take about 5 years to do so.  A $7.5 million budget would keep taxpayers from having to pay more taxes.  Every commissioner had agreed to this and Comm. Bernard made the motion to accept the $7.5 million budget with Cox, Hill, and Pennamon also voting to do so.  I was not even at the meeting where this occurred, yet somehow I “fudged” the figures and forced them to vote this way!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ij5nQpLJSE

This video shows the motion and vote on 1/4/10 to set 2010 budget at $7,501,300

As I said at the meeting the day the $8.2 million 2010 budget was passed, it is best to plan for the worse and hope for the best.  This does not appear to be the philosophy of the 3 commissioners--Pennamon, Bernard, and Hill—that want to spend without regard of the fact that revenues have been declining for the last 3 years.  You can look at their past record.  They never paid attention to what revenues were coming in.

Now look back at 2009.  The budget was cut and amended to $8.2 million.  The preliminary figures show that $8.3 million came in because of a late payment from 2008 of over $300,000 from the State.  Every department overspent and one elected official even put articles in the paper how the past CFO and County Manager were right and I was wrong. (Even though the entire BOC voted on the $8.2 million budget for 2009, I was singled out as “the bad guy.”) Dan Jordan said there was no way the budget needed to be cut to $8.2 million and he would operate in the red before he’d cut his budget.  He did, too; the Clerk of Court overspent by almost $30,000. 

That $8.2 million 2009 budget kept the county from going in the hole another $1.3 million.  (Don’t tell me everyone wouldn’t have spent the entire $9.6 million original budget if I had not been cut!)

So here we are today in 2010.  I would like to see the county operate in the black and not have to borrow money.   There is nothing sinister about holding the line on expenses and cutting out wasteful spending. 

I am anxious for the final 2009 audit to be finished.  I am anxious for the current CPA that the BOC has hired to give us some revenue projections for 2010.   Comm. Pennamon said at the Town Hall meeting that plenty of money was coming in and we’d have plenty to fund the entire $8.2 million budget.  I sincerely hope he is right and I am wrong.

Honestly, folks, it is not about who is right and who is wrong.  It is supposed to be about WHAT is right and WHAT is wrong.   Until that is the goal of all the commissioners, nothing good will be accomplished for this county. 

My personal agenda is to watch the county finances and to keep your taxes from increasing.   Governments have been inefficient and just raise taxes to cover the inefficiencies.  That can no longer happen.  I will continue to hold that line.

Mary Patrick
District 4 Commissioner,
Jasper County, GA
marypatrick@wildblue.net
www.MaryPatrick4Jasper.com

Let the Sunshine In”