Healthcare Benefits and Budget, Topics at BOC Meeting

Forsyth County residents will get their first look at the county's $92.4 million general fund budget for 2012 (see PDF file below) at Thursday's Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting.

The new budget represents about a 5 percent increase from the 2011 budget

Finance Director David Gruen said sales tax revenue has increased in the last year. That is welcome news for county employees who have endured numerous wage and benefits cuts the last five years as revenue plunged.

The new budget will allow some of those benefits to be restored, including a 3 percent cost-of-living increase and a 3 percent 401K match.

Several county departments appear healthier this year than they were at this time last year. For example, the fire fund now has approximately $2 million in reserves, and expects to manage on a $16.9 million budget. That is about 2 percent less than it was last year.

The county's water and sewer fund, which is an enterprise fund, financed solely by the county's water customers, will operate on a nearly $41 million budget, or about 5.5 percent more than 2011.

The board may also deal with what has become a hot-button issue this week regarding extending healthcare benefits to elected officials.

Currently, elected officials remain on the county's plan at employee rates for one year after leaving office unless they are eligible for Medicare or another plan. With the proposed changes, elected officials could stay on the county's plan at employee rates for a period of time equal to the number of years they served in office.

Once that time period has expired, they could continue on the same plan at the raised retiree rates until eligible for Medicare or another plan.

County officials don't know what the program would cost either in the short- or long-term and opponents have been very outspoken in their opposition.

Chairwoman Sharon Gunter called the plan "preposterous" and added that it could bankrupt the county. Gunter called on commissioners to reconsider the plan.

said it is essentially the same plan that was in place before he took office three years ago and one he thinks should be restored.

Bell also said, contrary to some reports, past elected officials would not be eligible to participate.

Citizens are invited and encouraged to attend Thursday's meeting held on the second floor (Suite 220) of the Forsyth County Administration Building, 110 E. Main Street in downtown Cumming beginning at 5 p.m.