Friday, July 25, 2003

Budget tweaked by Commission

At last week's meeting, the Board of Commissioners took steps to keep the 2003 General Fund budget in balance. The amended budget includes a rollback in the millage rate without severe cuts in health, human services, libraries, and criminal justice programs.

Targeting operational costs such as employee travel, amounting to $2.5 million, the Board of Commissioners also implemented a hiring freeze across all departments with expected savings of $1.5 million. Cuts were also made to temporary employee services in several large departments.

In addition to cost reductions, $2 million in cost savings are expected above the amounts budgeted for the transition of prisoners directly to the Fulton County Jail. An additional $400,000 in savings is expected with regard to short term debt leasing payments owed to GE Capital.

An additional $2 million in cost savings were realized in the Tax Commissioner's office when some positions created for the enhancement of the lien forfeiture unit were unfilled.