Through the end of November 2023, Whitfield County revenues were $41.9 million, up 12.4% from the same period in 2022, according to Debbie Godfrey, the county’s chief financial officer.
Godfrey updated the county commissioners on county finances at a recent meeting.
“We had projected revenue through November to be $37.3 million, compared to (2022) which was $37.2 million,” she said.
The county’s Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenue was $14.1 million, up 6.6% from the same period last year. The LOST is a 1% tax on most goods sold in the county that funds local government operations.
As of the end of November, expenses were $49.8 million, up 1.36% from the same period in 2022.
“Projected expenditures were $49.2 million,” Godfrey said. “Again, compared to last year which was $45.5 million.”
“Our actual fund balance as of November was $24.9 million, and based on what we expect to receive, our projected fund balance will be $35.9 million.”
But she said there are measures on retirement and pensions that could be on the January commission meeting agenda that could affect those numbers.
“For our 2020 SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax), our actual receipts through Nov. 30, for the whole SPLOST is $71.2 million,” she said. “Our projected (SPLOST) expenditures through the end of November are $44.2 million.”
The SPLOST is a 1% tax on most goods sold in the county that is used by local governments to fund capital projects.
The 2020 SPLOST expires at the end of September 2024. It has funded among other projects the creation of Riverbend Park and Rocky Face Ridge Park, Whitfield County Fire Station 12, two soccer fields at Heritage Point Park, renovation of Dalton’s John Davis Recreation Center and road paving across the county and Dalton.
The commissioners will put a referendum on the May general primary ballot for a new SPLOST that would last four years and is expected to collect $80 million if approved by voters. It would fund, among other things, new radios for first responders; improvements to Westside Park, including a new gymnasium/community center; improvements to Edwards Park, including replacement of field lighting with LED lights; new vehicles for the county sheriff’s office and the Dalton Police Department; capital improvements to the county jail such as replacing the parts of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and security hardware replacement; improvements to the courthouse HVAC system; and road paving, bridge repair and replacement, and other roadwork.