To point out the positive as well as the negative, local news reported that the County received a favorable grade on the county's finances and operating procedures.  Powell, Powell & Jones, CPA, presented the audit to the BOCC and said the year was a successful one and saying that the county was better off at the end of the year than at the beginning.  Now for the numbers: total assets for the county exceeded liabilities by $97.8 million, with net assets increasing by $106,000.  Capital assets accounted for 79 percent of its assets.  An additional 12 percent represented resources that are dedicated or subject to restrictions, leaving $9.3 million in unrestricted assets.

County revenue for government activities was as follows: 42% from property taxes, 13% from state shared revenue and 11% from sales and use taxes.  Expenditures of this revenue was spent as follows: 31% for public safety, 20% for general government, 25% for transportation, 7% for human services and 7% for physical environment.  The county's general fund had a net increase of $847,000.  Also all issues from the prior year had been rectified.

The only two issues found this year was in terms of insurance coverage, they could not ascertain if all county employees were covered by fidelity bonding.  The other being the fringe benefit of county provided cell phones to certain employees without charging them for personal use.  Though allowed by Florida law, it constitutes taxable benefits under IRS regulations.  According to Jack Brown, these issues will be handled and a new cell phone policy voted on at the board's regular meeting.

I will give a congratulations to the administrative part of the government for what seems to be a job well done in this area.