The Henry County Board of Commissioners closed a $15 million shortfall and voted Tuesday night to adopt a $112.4 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1.
This was the second straight year the county faced a severe revenue gap. After property values plummeted an unprecedented $1 billion in 2010, the county saw values decrease an additional $381 million this year. The tax digest has fallen 25 percent in three years, according to county officials.
The new budget was achieved without increasing the millage rate or drawing on the county's fund balance, or emergency reserve account.
The county decided for the second straight year to use funds from its SPLOST road paving account to pay for road resurfacing, a move that will save the county Department of Transportation $5.3 million in the coming year.
Also, $2.2 million in excess funds from the county's retirement account were applied to the budget, and county employees will take four furlough days -- the same number as in the past year -- for a $1.1 million savings.
The commissioners have cut all county contributions to outside agencies by 50 percent and are raising the hotel-motel tax to 8 percent. The county also will implement new fees for police reports and for out-of-county seniors to participate in activities at the county's three senior centers.
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