Hart County Administrative Offices
From Jon Caime, County Administrator
February 10, 2009
Although the global economic situation has set a firm footing in Hart County over the past year, Hart County is different. Our economic “downturn” began several years before the current global economic recession when several of our local manufacturers closed. In response to this Hart County has been steadily working to rebuild our local economy.
As a result of this, Hart County has some of the only economic activity in the State of Georgia. We have been focusing our efforts on investing in workforce development, infrastructure, and a great business climate in order to draw in new economic investment. It will take years to get Hart County back to “full employment” but we are well on our way to brighter tomorrow.
For several years now, even when the rest of the Global economy was “booming”, the BOC has placed economic development as one of our top priorities. At I-85 we have seen non-stop new industrial development for several years. The recently completed 300,000 square foot Fenner Dunlop facility has already begun hiring. On the heels of that construction, CD logistics has begun construction of their new facility. Within the next month our first tenant in our brand new second phase of the Gateway Industrial Park, RITZ, will begin construction of their new manufacturing facility.
Textiles used to “king” in Hart County and the downturn in that one industrial sector have left many people out of work. We have learned from our past by bringing in new industries that are in diverse sectors. Our goals are to promote higher skilled jobs so we have focused energy in a partnership with the Board of Education, the technical colleges, and the University of Georgia, to get Hart County’s workers the skills needed for these higher skilled jobs. Hart County is one of the first Counties in the State of Georgia to be workforce certified through the State of Georgia’s brand new workforce development program. These higher skilled jobs provide good secure wages that not are as susceptible to competition from low skilled labor in foreign countries.
The Hart County Board of Commissioners also continues to support additional economic development efforts included increasing tourism to Hart County. With three cents of every dollar being spent in Hart County coming back to us as sales tax revenue, tourism helps to keep our property taxes at one of the lowest rates in the state. Every tourist dollar generates a penny to directly offset property taxes, a penny to build new schools, and a penny for fire department, recreation, economic development, new water lines, and for road construction. Tourism efforts will include the construction of a Lake Hartwell Mega Ramp to attract large fishing tournaments to Hart County and the City of Hartwell. This Mega Ramp will primarily be constructed using State funds.
In 2008, the Hart County Board of Commissioners continued to implement their long range road maintenance plan. Since implementation of this plan in 2001, the Hart County Board of Commissioners has repaved 106 miles of county road (29% of all paved county roads), resurfaced 100 miles of tar and gravel roads (extending their life another 10 years), and paved 45 miles of our dirt roads (50% less dirt roads in just five years).
Continuing last year’s emphasis on road safety, the BOC has been very aggressive on fixing and replacing our bridges and pipes. In the past year we have completed 100% of the high priority bridge repairs and replacements. We have repaired or replaced over 45 structures in the past year accounting for about 25% of our total bridge structures.
Following several years of planning and research the BOC took action last year to move forward on the first phases of the replacement of the courthouse and the Law Enforcement Center. Construction at the new 14 acre governmental campus began last year using State prison labor on building a new 6,000 sf building to house the Sheriffs office.
An additional 10,000 square foot building to relieve overcrowding at the courthouse by providing office space for the Tax Commissioner, Tax Assessors, Voter Registration, Economic Development, and Veterans Offices has been put on hold for now due to budget cuts. These investments will be a long term solution allowing the county to expand to meet the future needs of the county as the county continues to grow.
With many years of growing revenues and budget surpluses, the Hart County Board of Commissioners (BOC) has a healthy fund balance that we can rely upon during these tough economic times. The Hart County Board of Commissioners lowered the tax millage rate for six years in a row and has progressively moved up in the ranks and now has the lowest County tax rate in Georgia (out of 159 counties). This lower millage rate is 28% less than the millage rate five years ago and is a critical sales tool to continue to entice businesses to locate to Hart County.
Last fiscal year (FY08) was the first time in almost a decade that revenues had decreased over the prior year. Prior to finalizing the current fiscal year budget (FY09), the BOC cut spending by 5% across the board. A dramatic drop in Sales Tax revenues in the final quarter of FY08 has resulted in midyear FY09 budget cut of an additional 2-2.5% in spending. The BOC is meeting these financial challenges “head on” but cutting spending.
There are two local option sales taxes that affect the County government (a third sales tax is for the School District). Sales tax revenues have taken a steep decline with decreased consumer spending. A portion of this decline is due to the low Lake Hartwell levels from the drought which is expected to ease somewhat this coming year.
The SPLOST sales tax is a special purpose local option sales tax that must be used for specific construction projects. These projects may be delayed some due to the slower revenues but the funds can not be diverted to other purposes. Projects included in this SPLOST sales tax are for purchase of Fire Equipment, additional recreation facility construction, economic development, road construction, and water line construction.
Fortunately Hart County only uses a “pay as you go” philosophy where we do not borrow money in advance of receiving it. As a result of this, Hart County is not faced with debt payments that are higher than the money coming in as other communities struggle with how they will make their debt payments.
“May you live in challenging times” is very true right now in Hart County. We have risen to meet these challenging times and will work diligently and steadfastly to continue to meet these challenges head on for a brighter future.
©
2002-2005 Hart County Board of Commissioners 
Hartwell, GA 30643