According to Randy Dowling, county administrator, “revenues were more than anticipated, and expenses were less than budgeted” for the fiscal year that ended June 30, leaving the county in a better financial position than had been originally estimated.
The board passed a budget amendment that some of the surplus funds be used to restore five of the 10 previously unpaid holidays back to county government employees. These five holidays include Thanksgiving day and the day directly following, Christmas Eve, Christmas day, and New Years day.
“Each department head and elected official should be commended for their efforts in keeping their departmental expenditures as low as possible during last fiscal year, while still providing quality local government services,” said Dowling.
The cost to the county for the reinstatement of these paid holidays will be $289,647.
The board also passed the reinstatement of 2.5 percent of the original five percent that the county contributed to employee retirement accounts. This contribution is contingent upon a match of 2.5 percent by the employee, according to Dowling.
The cost for these contributions is estimated to be $253,965 and will take affect on Sept. 1.
Next year’s budget will include both benefits for county employees, according to Dowling, however if the economy improves greatly in the next year the county will consider reinstating the full ten unpaid holidays as well as the full five percent retirement contribution.
“They (county employees) went out, they helped Gordon County save money, and by them doing that and by the staff working together and the board working together, we were able to save some million dollars and were able to put these (benefits) back up,” said Board Chairman Alvin Long. “We just appreciate them pulling together, and we’re going to fulfill our promise.”
Also during the meeting the board accepted a bid response from Womack, Lewis, and Smith Contractors of Cartersville for $322,757 for the renovations of the Courthouse Plaza. The bid for the project includes construction to the front of the courthouse plaza, “Option A” which includes construction of sidewalks on three sides of the courthouse, and“Option B” which includes the landscaping for the property. The county has included a 10 percent contingency fee to act as a cushion in the event of unforeseen complications during construction according to Dowling, which totals the project at $355,000.
The monies for this project will come from funds allocated in the Special-Purpose Local-Option Sales Tax 2005 project fund, according to Dowling. The project will begin in early September and will take 90 days to complete.
The board also approved a request by the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant program for the fiscal year 2010-2011.
This LMIG program stemmed from a recent combining of the Local Assistance Road Program and the State Aid program by the Georgia Department of Transportation, according to Dowling.
The county will submit a request to the Georgia DOT for road improvements totaling $390,000 on 12.12 miles of eight different roads throughout the county, including River Bend Road, Lovers Lane, and Pittman Road.
Also during the Tuesday, Aug. 17 meeting, Gordon County Board of Commissioners:
$11 billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year by state governments.
Illegal households only pay about one-third the amount of federal taxes that non-illegal households pay.
Illegal households create a net fiscal deficit at the federal level of more than $10 billion a year. If given amnesty, this number could grow to more than $29 billion.
$1.9 billion dollars a year is spent on food-assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC and free school lunches for illegal aliens.
$1.6 billion is spent on the federal prison and court system for illegal aliens.
$2.5 billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.
About 21 percent of the population of U.S. prisons is classified as “noncitizens” from Mexico, Colombia, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. About 5 percent is listed as “unknown.”
Do the math.......
Welltraveled, unfortunately it doesn't even out or benefit us for all those false documents to be used to pay into SS. The money the US spends on every other benefit many get, far outweighs that.
Maybe we improve the wall at the border too. Little bit of barbed wire and a few land mines for a no-man's land to keep them down there where they belong. Bet that gets the message they aren't wanted here. And if a few go up in smoke, no big deal. They aren't like us anyhow.
Yet, I agree with you they either need a Visa or a greencard. But, there is a lot of racism and poor judgement in this thread.
I seriously doubt, you would see that many empty houses, & empty plants if so many illegal aliens were not here. I also doubt carpet would be unaffordable. After all, we're the Carpet Capitol, right? The big 3 just wouldn't make quite the profit they do. Too bad, boohoo.
Immigrants here, I have no problem with. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, I have a problem with.
Nobody thought much about it in the 90's when unemployment was 4%, and no whites or blacks wanted the tough jobs. We need more immigrants to help pay for the welfare state we are becoming.
It is my hearts desire to see every one of them loaded up on those buses and ship them all back. Then put up a 40 foot high electric fence, and then dig a ditch 40 foot deep with the same so they can't get back over. I know that is extreme, but for goodness sake, think about Americans for a change!!! Who gives us anything. No one.