Wednesday, June 20, 2001
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Wednesday, June 20, 2001 |
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Former finance head slaps commission on budget
By DAVE
HAMRICK
Fayette County's former finance director doesn't think much of the county's new budget. A plan to reduce the county's savings in order to pay off the debt on the County Administrative Complex is "not fiscally responsible," said Emory McHugh, who resigned his post late in 2000 to take on the job of shepherding finances for the new Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. "Expenses are going to be happening [in] the future that you guys are not going to be funding," McHugh told the County Commission during a public hearing on the budget last week. During McHugh's seven-year tenure as finance director, Fayette won numerous state and federal awards for the quality of its financial reporting. "I'm a little bit concerned about this budget," he said. He also chided the commissioners for turning down a request from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services for programmed additions to its "manpower squad," aimed at improving response times to fires and emergency medical calls. "The losses on property have been increasing over the years," said McHugh, adding that the $187,000 cost could be made up by saving "just one property in the county." He praised plans to instigate a five-year capital improvement plan as part of this year's budgeting process, but complained that plans to spend $350,000 for new software are wasteful. "This one [software package] works pretty well," he said. Commission Chairman Greg Dunn thanked McHugh for his input, but showed no signs of being persuaded. "There are some philosophical differences in the way you used to do things and the way some of us want to," he said. Commissioners also heard from Ginger Blackstone, upset that funding for Keep Fayette Beautiful was cut from the budget. "I'm stunned," she said. "I really feel like I've been slapped in the face." Commissioners voted last week to axe the $25,000 budget for the organization, saying the program hasn't grown and hasn't accomplished as much as hoped. "We're just not getting much bang for the buck," said Dunn. He said the commission would reconsider funding for the group if its leaders can get more supplemental funding from other local governments and community organizations.
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