Cherokee County’s chief financial officer gave a generally upbeat report on county finances at Tuesday’s county commission meeting — coupled with a warning.

Pre-audit results for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 show the county’s revenue was $7 million above budget for the year, at $152.7 million, while expenses amounted to $160.4 million, $14.1million less than forecasted, said Janelle Funk. The general fund was up $2.1 million over projections, driven in part by bigger than expected TAVT/motor vehicle and mortgage-related tax collections.

Not-so-bright spots included health care claims per employee per month, which ran nearly 10 percent over budget, with more enrollees and higher costs. The county will probably use almost all the unreserved balance in the insurance and benefits fund in 2015, helping create a gap that’ll need to be addressed for the following year.

Workers compensation claims were also higher than expected, due primarily to new claims, Funk said.

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The renovation of Jekyll Island's Great Dunes golf course includes nine holes designed by Walter Travis in the 1920s for the members of the Jekyll Island Club. Several holes that were part of the original layout where located along the beach and were bulldozed in the 1950s.(Photo by Austin Kaseman)

Credit: Photo by Austin Kaseman