About Barrow journal. (Winder, Ga.) 2008-2016 | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2009)
Barrow Journal www.BarrowJournal.com •r Read all over... Wednesday, June 3,2009 Vol. 1 No. 32 22 PAGES 3 SECTIONS A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. WINDER, BARROW COUNTY GEORGIA 30680 250COPY Winder officials won t face public Beck: Back and forth between citizens...council and mayor...does not happen ’ BY SUSAN NORMAN Despite a difficult budget year and some recent city layoffs, Winder's mayor and city administrator said this week that neither they nor the city council would be part of any public hearing process regarding the town’s impending $43 million FY2010 budget. That position raised questions from one citizen at Tuesday night's council meeting and appears to vio late Georgia law regarding the city budget process. The city’s proposed budget was distributed for the first time to the council Monday night. The city held a meeting May 26 at which a city employee met with two citizens, but that meeting did not have the manda tory seven-day public notice, and the mayor and council did not attend as required by state law for the meeting to be a legitimate hearing. In addi tion, the “budget" presented at that hearing was incomplete, consisting of a one-page data spreadsheet. Winder resident Kay Pierce asked the council Tuesday night why the new budget lays out a different pro cess than the one the city is actually following. Pierce asked Mayor George “Chip” Thompson III when had he presented the budget to the council as the city’s procedures call for. The mayor said he did not present it to the council. He said city employee Leslie Ginn distributed it Monday at the council's work session. continued on page 3A NON RESPONSIVE Winder officials contend they do not have to attend public hear ings on the new city budget. Photo by Susan Norman Bethlehem ends 2008 flush with cash As some local govern ments struggle through the economic downturn with declining income and high costs, the Town of Bethlehem is the model of financial security accord ing to its 2008 audit. Bethlehem had a net income over expense of $97,400 in 2008 in its general fund, adding to the town’s already large reserves. At the end of last year, Bethlehem had $944,800 in unrestricted cash reserves, around six years worth of reserves based on current expens es. Bethlehem’s total income in 2008 was $386,100, mostly from sales taxes. Its largest expense was for SPLOST capital outlay of $128,200 for roads and recreation projects. Town of Bethlehem 2008 Audit Income Sales taxes $244,800 Insurance taxes $40,100 Franchise taxes $43,300 Inuestment income $29,000 Other Total Income $300100 Expenses General Gout. $100000 Sanitation $35300 Capital Outlay $128200 Debt Service $10,600 Total Expenses $282,955 Net Fund Balance +$103,177 $1.0 million* *$944,800 unrestricted BOC to vote on layoffs, salary cuts Statham youth killed by train Saturday — Inside — Area news: •The beauty of Barrow County page 1C •In the kitchen with a Cook of Barrow County page 1C •Unemployment rates remain flat page 2A •Sewer remains con cern in Bethlehem page 3A Opinions: •Summer remains special time of year page 4A •Saxby, Johnny must walk fine line page 4A •A dictatorship in Winder page 4 A Sports: •AHS Wildcats prepare for summer work page 1B •Racing returns to WB Speedway page2B •Scenes from WBHS spring practice page4B Also Inside: •Classifieds page 8C •Church News page 7B •Public Safety page 6A-7A •Obituaries pages 6-7C To subscribe, call today: 770-867-NEWS (6397). The Barrow Journal is delivered every Thursday. 8 l 4 8 7 9 14541 7 Sources say vote Tuesday BY SUSAN NORMAN Employees of Barrow County's government will learn next week how severely the county's fiscal crisis will affect them. Sources requesting ano nymity told the Barrow Journal this week that the Barrow County Board of Commissioners is likely to vote Tuesday night on deci sive steps to salvage the county's finances. The plan reportedly includes a significant “reduction in force” affect ing most departments, as well as salary cuts for many of those who hang onto their jobs. Salaries are expected to undergo a major correc tion to remedy the snow ball effect of the aggressive implementation of a 2005 pay study that has resulted in salaries and benefits now absorbing nearly all of the county’s annual revenues. At current staffing levels, salaries would require all but $2 million of the $28 million in anticipated rev enue in FY2010. Since January, the com missioners have taken away employees’ holiday pay, made across-the-board sal ary reductions, and consoli dated a few departments in order to reduce staff. With additional resignations and retirements, the staff ing level currently is about what it was in 2006. However, the cuts to date have not filled the revenue gap for the current fiscal year. The county needs to find another $1.6 million in savings or revenue over the next three months just to balance the FY2009 bud get. 2010 BUDGET The cuts to be announced Tuesday should also make a serious dent in the FY2010 budget shortfall, which cur rently is projected to amount to $7 million or more. The size of the remain ing budget shortfall should be easier to determine by September, when the board tackles the new budget and sets the millage rate. By then, the county's new retail center will have been open for six months, the county assessors will be able to say how much the thou sands of lower assessments will affect property tax revenues, and the finance department should be able to gauge the impact of next week’s cutbacks. If the remaining shortfall is $1.5 million or more, a millage rate increase is probably on the horizon. continued on page 3A BY SUSAN NORMAN A 17-year-old Statham youth was killed Saturday morning when he was hit by an oncoming CSX train just outside the city limits. But exactly what happened isn’t yet clear. A report from the Barrow County Sheriff's Office said the victim, Joshua Whiten, may have been walking on the tracks at the time of the inci dent while listening to music. “The train's operator saw the victim walking within the tracks and immediately sounded the warning systems as well as began to brake,” a report from the BCSO stat ed. “Tragically, Whiten never moved from the path of the train and was struck. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest negligence on behalf of the train operators. “The Barrow County WHITEN Sheriff's Office is investigat ing the incident. The inves tigation has revealed that the victim may have been listen ing to a digital music device before the collision. The Sheriff's Office is investigat ing all possible scenarios, in attempts to uncover the facts of the case.” continued on page 2A Local seniors to graduate this week BY CHRIS BRIDGES For seniors at Winder-Barrow and Apalachee High School, the long-awaited day is almost here. WBHS seniors will walk the stage Thursday, June 4, at 8 p.m. in a ceremony held at W. Clair Harris Stadium. Fellow seniors at AHS will take part in their graduation ceremonies Friday, June 5. The ceremony will also be at the school’s football stadium at 8 p.m. Anna Grayson Gresham is the valedicto rian for WBHS with Taylor Nicole Turner earning salutatorian honors. Josephine Gina Borg is Apalachee’s valedictorian for the 2008-09 school year with Lauren Ashley Morris being named the salutatorian. Chico’s to expand facility Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that women's fashion retailer Chico’s FAS, Inc. plans to expand its distribution center facilities in Barrow County with an initial investment of $15 million, which is expected to create 189 full time jobs over the next three years. In order to expand its facilities in Winder, Chico's purchased the former Hagemeyer Building on Barrow Industrial Parkway. The 300,000-square-foot building, which is close to the current Chico's distribution center, will house an additional distribution facility. When the expansion is completed by year-end, there will be more than 450 full-time Chico’s employees in Barrow County. continued on page 3A SPRING CONCLUDES Winder-Barrow High School (above) and Apalachee High School have both completed spring football practice. Players and coaches are now set for summer work as the countdown to the new season continues. See more coverage in today’s sports section. Photo by Jessica Brown
