Forsyth County is looking at a $3.1 million budget shortfall in 2012 unless it either cuts spending or figures out a way to raise revenue before the County Commission presents its final budget next fall.
That was the news delivered Tuesday to the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners by county finance director, David Gruen, who presented a preliminary 2012 budget with about $90.2 million in projected revenue and $93.3 million in expenditures, if the county is to sustain its current level of services.
If the county commission decides to add all new budget items presented by departments that would add another estimated $3.6 million to expenditures, and grow the budget gap to about $6.7 million, said Gruen.
Gruen told commissioners the county tax digest had declined 4.7 percent from last year, largely a result of depressed real estate prices. Commissioners said Tuesday they do not plan to raise the millage rate to make up the shortfall, as they did last year.
Commissioners also said they likely would give county employees a cost of living upward adjustment of 3 percent next year, instead of restoring the county’s 401K contributions from the current three percent, to five percent.
The commission will next take up the budget during its June 28 work session. The Commission will hold at least four public hearings, and establish the millage rate, before it plans to adopt the final budget Oct. 20.
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