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Washington County must tighten its belt A large debt, totaling in the millions of dollars, is forcing Washington County officials to limit their spending. The Web site of the Examiners of Public Accounts (EPA) posts the financial status of Alabama counties one year in arrears. The most recent accounting ends Sept. 30, 2005. The report for Washington County states, "The Washington County government made temporary loans in excess of $400,000 during the year (05). According to the Code of Alabama 1975 - Sections 11-19 and 11-10-2, County Commissions may make temporary loans not to exceed $400,000." The EPA makes the following recommendation: "The Washington County Commission should establish procedures to eliminate the deficit fund balance." The EPA report shows the General Fund with a net decrease of $208,527.64, and states the major factor was an "increase in overall expenditures." The report also stated that the Washington County Commission decreased its outstanding debt by $125,830.65, as of Sept. 30, 2005. The report shows a short term note payable of $625,000. EPA's 9-30-05 site states that the General Fund of Washington County has a deficit balance of $511,181.92 and the Public Buildings, Roads and Bridges Fund has a deficit balance of $62,983.10. Probate Judge Charles Singleton gave the following report of the current indebtedness of Washington County: +$2, 525,000, 2002 bond issue - repayable with gasoline taxes handled entirely at the state level. Pays out Sept. 1, 2017. +$630,000 - 2001 general obligation bond - owes three more payments, pays out in 2010. +$2,402,425.74 - 2007 bonds (a refinancing of 1998 bonds) +$2,099,585 in lease/purchase agreements When asked about the 2005 deficit balance in both General Fund and Roads and Bridges, Judge Singleton said that the `05 figures are "close to where we are at the end of `06." He rounded off the general indebtedness of Washington County at approximately 8 million dollars. On Friday, Sept. 2, Probate Judge Singleton said, "The commission agrees that we can't borrow this year and we must be very leery of spending. A budget is a target to shoot at, based on projected revenues. We are going to begin planning now for 2008. We are doing our dead-level best to control spending. I have asked our people to do that and I think we will see some savings." His plans include making a projected cash flow for county government.
"We want to provide the best service to our citizens possible in constraint of our funding," he said.
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