The budget for Haralson County has been tentatively set for the new fiscal year, which will begin July 9. The Board of Commissioners met last Wednesday to comb over details, though they have to manage on a $1.5-million budget deficit, which Commission Chairman Allen Poole attributed to the shortfall in revenue last year.

The county had about $13.7 million to work with in the last fiscal year; however, there’s a smaller pot to pull from these days due to widespread cost-cutting measures, cuts in state funding and modest spending practices in the community.

“As far as the budget being finalized, we’ve agreed to the numbers, but we have to adhere to the legal process of notification in our legal organ (Gateway-Beacon),” he said. The board must also hold a public hearing before adopting the 2009-10 fiscal budget, which will be held July 9 at the Haralson County Government Complex in Buchanan.

The board plans to carefully tread on a “revenue-driven” budget of $11.7 million, designated for general operations. In the board meeting, they agreed to increase the budget numbers to this amount after Haralson County Sheriff Eddie Mixon requested more financial support to maintain his staff. The board consented, considering the need to have a sufficient supply of public safety personnel in the community.

This decision may come as a relief to sheriff’s department employees, who voluntarily returned the 50-cent raises they received from the county last year to help compensate for the economic downturn.

The economic setbacks in 2008 also fueled county layoffs that included four full-time and three part-time employees. The unemployment rate in Georgia continues to inch closer to 9.7 percent, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. However, the board hopes that last year’s layoffs was the final round of jobs cuts and other cost-saving measures.

“At this time, I don’t see us doing anything further than we’ve already done. Last year, we took proactive steps to balance our budget, so we won’t have to make cuts,” he said. “We took steps eight months ago to bring things in line with the financial requirements. Before any cuts are made, the county will look at essential and non-essential services.”

Though he didn’t pinpoint what services or employees would be the first to go, Poole earlier said maintaining law enforcement staff is vital in order to ensure the public’s safety.

County officials only other options to free up more funds, if needed, are to either raise taxes or cut services. The county is seemingly ahead of the curve at the moment as far as issuing cost-saving actions, but Poole encourages people to tighten their belts, too.

“The board has listened to the concerns of taxpayers, and we’re compelled to hold taxes where they are without asking citizens for a tax raise,” he said. “However, if citizens feel the county needs to further enhance our ability to provide services, citizens would have to agree to a tax hike.”