Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010

Debt worries some leaders

An audit released last week found the county's finances in order. But the audit's mention of the county's soaring debt had some commissioners' hairs standing on end.

As of June 30, the county's long-term debt stood at about $507 million, an increase of $120 million over the year before, the audit noted. Of the total debt, about $387 million was used to build schools in Johnston.

"That gives you a big idea of the amount of school debt you're carrying. ... and that's a big number," said auditor Alan W. Thompson of the firm Thompson, Price, Scott, Adams and Co.

Several commissioners voiced concerns about the debt -- and the $14.7 million deficit between the county's revenues and spending in fiscal 2009.

"What it's telling me is that we haven't done a very good job living within our means and keeping the county in as good a shape as we can," said Commissioner Allen Mims, the board's vice chairman.

Commissioner Jeff Carver said the debt figures were "frightening."

"That's a half-billion dollars for a county with 165, 170 thousand people," he said.

And Commissioner Tony Braswell said he expected to see those numbers inflate more in coming years. "That tail on that cat's just going to grow and grow and grow," Braswell said, referring to the debt. "It gives you a true picture of what that liability is."

All signs say commissioners will be keeping a tight checkbook, and the next budget should be even more contentious than the last.

Request denied

Shortly after the audit report, representatives of the Johnston County Council on Aging asked the board for $11,000 to fund a ramp-installation project for seniors. Several commissioners said they saw merit in the project, but some said the budget was too tight to consider the project this fiscal year.

"Times are tough, guys, and y'all are going to have to scrap it out yourselves," Carver said. "We're outrunning our headlights; you can't run out of debt. ... If I have to play the bad guy, I'll play the bad guy."

The next group to ask for money would get the same response, he said.

Commissioner DeVan Barbour, who serves on the Council on Aging board, said he understood the budget woes, but wanted the county to provide whatever funding it could as soon as it could.

Wade Stewart, chairman of the board, said commissioners generally avoid handing out money in the middle of the fiscal year. With the exception of Braswell and Barbour, the board voted to take up the request at budget time this spring.