White County enacts spending freeze for remainder of the fiscal year

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Chairman Travis Turner

Travis Turner

WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the White County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution that triggers a county-wide spending freeze on “non-essential items” for the remainder of the fiscal year Monday.

The resolution reads:

WHEREAS, due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the White County Board of Commissioners is considering a proactive action regarding current expenditures; and

WHEREAS, tax revenues are expected to decline as a result of the shelter-in-place and social-distancing orders enacted by Governor Brian Kemp; and

WHEREAS, a spending freeze aimed at giving White County Officials and staff time to assess revenues and expenditures will be enacted immediately; and

NOW THEREFORE, effective immediately, the White County Board of Commissioners will institute a spending freeze for the remainder of the fiscal year on all goods and services that are not considered “essential” for daily operations of departments and for providing “essential” services to its citizens. Purchases related to the public health and safety needs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic are considered essential.

BE IT RESOLVED, for the duration of the spending freeze, all procurement for goods and services must be reviewed for approval by the County Manager and the Finance Director before purchases are made.

Adopted this 28th day of April, 2020.

In announcing the resolution, Commission Chairman Travis Turner said, “Items such as payroll, utilities and functions required by the state such as law enforcement, public safety, emergency services, court services and elections are not included.”

The Georgia Department of Revenue hasn’t posted receipts for the month of March yet. “Our numbers are a month behind so we have yet to see what impact the coronavirus is having on the budget both revenues and expenditures.” Turner said. “Our numbers through the end of March look very good and we want to keep them looking very good.”

But he noted that some White County residents haven’t worked in a month and are being forced to tighten their belts. “We need to take a proactive approach and tighten our belts too,” he said.

Regarding the pandemic, Commissioner Edwin Nix noted, “We’ve never been in this before. “We don’t know what the future holds.”

 

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