By Becky Long
Publisher
Clay County Board of Commissioners received high marks on their audit report which was presented to the public during their Jan. 9 meeting.
The report was presented by CPA Holly Turner who said, “We were able to express a ‘clean opinion’ in our audit report for the year ending June 20, 2024 which is the best opinion the county can receive.”
The financial analysis of the county’s funds for fiscal year July 2023 through June 2024 shows:
• At the end of the current fiscal year, Clay County’s fund balance available in the General Fund was $10,646,468, while total fund balance reached $12,542,824.
• The County currently has an available fund balance of 43.36 perent of General Fund expenditures.
• For counties with general fund expenditures less than $100 million, 20 percent is the recommended minimum per LGC.
Turner also reported that everything was in compliance with federal and state programs.
Among other financial highlights she said:
• The county’s total net position increased by $4,155,252 based on an increase in the governmental activities net position of$4,090,204 and an increase in the business type activities net position of$65,048.
Among the positive effects on debt she noted:
• All debt service payments were made on time.
• General Fund debt decreased by $824,852.
• Water and Sewer District debt decreased by $104,849.
The complete audit report is available at the county manager’s office.
In other matters, commissioners were given a presentation of the Clay County Outdoor Initiative and ask for their support in the endeavor to move forward in the next phases. No action was taken.
Background: In early 2022, Clay County was invited to be a part of the Building Outdoor Communities (BOC), which is an outdoor-driven community economic development initiative of the WNC: MADE X MTNS Partnership. Representatives submitted an application to participate in August, and attended the kick-off conference in September 2022. Clay County developed a community working group, made up of Town/County officials, Chamber of Commerce and various organizations, business and individuals from the private sector.
In early 2023, the Clay County Outdoor Initiative under the direction of the BOC, began an outdoor related needs assessment of Clay County. During this time, letters of support for this initiative were received from both the Town of Hayesville and the Clay County government.
Highlights of the report:
• Because of CCOl’s participation and completion of the needs assessment, we were eligible to apply for a BOC Planning & Capacity Building Grant, up to $25,000 with a $6250 matching requirement.
• The Hiwassee River Greenway was identified as the number one priority on the CCOI initial application to the BOC
• The Hiwassee River Greenway was in the top ten priorities of the 2023 Hayesville Moves Pedestrian & Bicycle Plan
• The Hiwassee River Greenway was voted the number one project by our local community during the community input phase of the DOT Pedestrian/Bike Plan
• The Hiwassee River Greenway was the number one priority project in the 2019 Southern Blue Ridge Bike Plan
• The Hiwassee River Greenway has been identified as a need in the Clay County Comprehensive Plan dating back to 2011
• Clay County committed to provide the 25 percent match of $6250 for the Project Scoping and Feasibility for a section of the Hiwassee River Greenway
•The Project Scoping and Feasibility was begun by Equinox, with involvement of the property owners (county/town/library/private) with the completion of the Spikebuck to Town portion of this project completed in mid-2024