HomeMy WebLinkAboutPutnam County - Public Financial ReportYour Tax Dollars at Work
A Financial Report to the Citizens of Putnam
County, Georgia for Fiscal Year 2021
October 1, 2020 –September 30, 2021
1Photo Courtesy of Visit Eatonton
On behalf of Putnam County Board of Commissioners, we are pleased to present our seventh Popular
Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the year ended September 30, 2021. Like the U.S. Government
and State of Georgia, Putnam County runs its budget on a “fiscal year,” from October 1 to September
30. The purpose of this report is to provide readers with an overview of the County, its different
departments, and financial information. However, it does not provide information regarding Funds or
Component Units.
As part of the county’s commitment to be transparent to its citizens, the report will also provide an
overview of the county’s organizational structure, services offered to its citizens, and financial state.
The information in this report is extracted from the County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,
which gives further detailed information.
Click the links provided to view Putnam County’s 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and
2020 Popular Annual Financial Report .
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ABOUT THIS REPORT
Table of Contents
1.Cover
2.About This Report
3.Table of Contents
4.Our Commissioners
5.Our Mission and Purpose
6.Letter from Our County Manager
7.Well-Known Connections
8.Award for Outstanding Achievement in
Popular Annual Financial Reporting
9.Organization
10.Putnam County EMS
11.Putnam County Fire-Rescue
12.Putnam County Animal Services
13.Oconee Springs Park
14.Uncle Remus Golf Course
15.Putnam County Recreation
Financial Information
16. What Is the County Doing with My Money?
17. Making the Most of Your Tax Dollar
18. Revenue by Source FY19 –FY21
19. Expenditures by Function FY19 –FY21
20. Net Position
21. Assets
22. Glossary of Terms
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Our County, Commissioners, and Districts
The Board of
Commissioners is a policy
making body that
oversees the executive
functions of the county
and assigns the day-to-
day duties of the
executive role to the
county manager.
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(Left to Right): Billy Webster, Chairman; Jeffrey Wooten, District 4 Commissioner;
Daniel Brown, District 2 Commissioner; Bill Sharp, District 3 Commissioner;
Gary McElhenney, District 1 Commissioner
Bordered by Morgan,
Greene, Hancock, Baldwin,
Jones, and Jasper
Counties, Putnam County
is located in Central
Georgia.
5
Putnam County government exists to:
P –Properly administer the affairs of Putnam County
U –Understand we must maintain a high level of
professionalism
T –Transparency will be paramount without exception
N –Nonpartisanship with the understanding that all
voices must be heard
A –Actively promote public confidence in county
government
M –Maintain a positive image
“The mission of Putnam County government is to
provide courteous, responsive, innovative and cost-
effective services.”
Our Mission and Purpose
Paul Van Haute
County Manager
To the Greatest Citizens of the Greatest County in Georgia:
On behalf of the Putnam County Staff, I am pleased to present our Popular Annual Financial
Report (PAFR ) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. This report is designed to increase awareness
throughout our county relative to the financial operations of Putnam County and provide you with
information on how your tax dollars are managed.
The financial information within this report is derived, in large part, from Putnam County’s
independently audited set of financial statements that are prepared in accordance with the Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The information is part of the County’s 2021 Annual
Comprehensive Financial Report. We are proud to say that our efforts regarding the County’s Annual
Comprehensive Financial Report have earned Putnam County’s Finance Department the Certificate of
Achievement for Excellence in Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association for the past
eight years. Putnam County received its first ever rating from the Moody’s Investment Service and is rated
Aa3.
I am very proud of all that has been accomplished in the past year. The Board of Commissioners and staff strive to provide the highest and best
possible services at the least possible cost. There is a lot of positive news in Putnam County and the following are some of the highlights.
The Putnam Development Authority (PDA) is actively promoting the South Industrial Park’s newly designated property as the county’s first
“Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development” (GRAD) site to prospective businesses. The PDA is working with several businesses expanding their existing
operations. The PDA is actively involved with the movie industry, and we are looking forward to more projects coming into the county.
The voters recently approved the second Local Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST#2). These funds will provide
additional road paving and improvements. The Board of Commissioners recently approved the TSPLOST#2 project list. The planning phase for the striping
and/or repaving of approximately 100 miles of roads has started. The county will begin TSPLOST#2 in 2022, which is scheduled to be completed in 2027. The
Georgia Department of Transportation will be widening Highway 441 from the Morgan County line to the Eatonton city limits.
There is much more happening in Putnam County, and we are looking forward to sharing those successes with you in the months and years to
come. Your commissioners, staff, and I thank you for your continued trust and faith in us. We are proud to report to you that, as the economy continues to
improve, so will Putnam County.
Sincerely,
Paul Van Haute,
County Manager
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Putnam County has a rich history with several
well-known connections. Our county is named
after General Israel Putnam, a hero of the
Revolutionary War. William H. Seward, a
Secretary of State under President Abraham
Lincoln, served as rector for Eatonton’s first
school known as Eatonton Academy.
Some of our other well-known connections are
also pictured here. Maybe you’ve heard of
them?
Vincent Hancock, three-time Olympic
gold medalist, grew up in Putnam
County.
Pulitzer Prize Winning Author and
Women’s Rights Activist, Alice Walker,
was born in Putnam County.Joel Chandler Harris, fiction writer
and folklorist, was born in Putnam
County.
Truett Cathy, founder and chairman
emeritus of Chick-fil-A, was born in
Putnam County.
Award for Outstanding Achievement in
Popular Annual Financial Reporting
Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and
Canada (GFOA) has given an Award for Outstanding Achievement in
Popular Annual Financial Reporting to Putnam County Government for
its Popular Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended September
30, 2020. The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Financial
Reporting is a prestigious national award recognizing conformance with
the highest standards for preparation of state and local government
popular reports.
In order to receive an Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular
Financial Reporting, a government unit must publish a Popular Annual
Financial Report, whose contents conform to program standards of
creativity, presentation, understandability, and reader appeal.
An Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial
Reporting is valid for a period of one year only. Putnam County
Government has received a Popular Award for the last seven
consecutive years (fiscal years ended 2015 –2020). We believe our
current report continues to conform to the Popular Annual Financial
Reporting requirements, and we are submitting it to GFOA to
determine its eligibility for another Award.
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Putnam County EMS
10
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Breathing
Problem
Fall Sick Person Traffic
Accident
Transfer
FY 2021 Types of Calls
In FY ’21, Putnam County EMS continued to provide the
highest quality emergency care to Putnam County’s
citizens. The team responded to a total of 2,920 calls in FY
‘21. The majority of these, represented by the graph above
were as follows: 566 calls to assist sick persons (fever, body
aches, general malaise), 340 falls, 307 calls for breathing
issues, and 295 calls to provide care for traffic accident
injuries. Putnam EMS responded to 205 calls for patient
transfers to medical facilities.
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Pictured (right) is one of the
two Pierce Saber Triple
Combination Rescue Pumpers
delivered to Putnam Fire
during FY ‘21. These fire
trucks were purchased with
SPLOST funds.
6 budgeted positions
were added to Putnam
County Fire Department,
ensuring full-time staff at
the Rock Eagle and Union
Chapel stations.
All of Putnam County’s fire staff receive regular
training to maintain safe and effective skills to serve
our community. Putnam Fire contracted with Vector
Solutions to provide online fire and EMS training for
career staff, as well as training record keeping for easy
access and accountability. Each career staff member
is assigned training monthly on this platform that
requires a mixture of online and hands-on training
with a goal of meeting ISO requirements of a
minimum of 240 hours of fire training annually, as
well as meeting recertification requirements for EMS
certifications and other specialized certifications.
In FY ‘21, the following training events were held:
•Apparatus Operator Pumper
•Vehicle Extraction Technician Level I
•Volunteer fire training
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
FY 2021 Calls
In FY ‘21, Putnam County Fire Department responded to
1767 calls, with the majority of those being medical assist
calls at 772, followed by miscellaneous assistance calls at
422.
Putnam County Fire Rescue –Always Ready, Proud to Serve
Animal Services
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0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Intakes Adoptions Return to
Owner
Euthanized Transfers
Animal Services Fy '21 Data
Canines Felines
Putnam County Animal Services took in a total of
618 dogs and cats in FY ‘21. Of those animals taken
in, 20 dogs and 29 cats were adopted. 55 dogs and
3 cats were returned to their owners. A total of 307
animals were euthanized and 194 were transferred
to shelters and other organizations throughout the
state.
Oconee Springs Park
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In FY ‘21, Oconee Springs Park continued to be a place for
young and old alike to enjoy some fun and relaxation at the
lake. A new reservation system, implemented in January of
2021, made it easier than ever for guests to reserve a spot for
their RV, or book a reservation in one of the four fully-
furnished cabins, with gorgeous front-porch views of Lake
Sinclair. Guests arriving by boat or by car can spend the night,
the weekend, or just spend the day having fun. Young and old
alike enjoy the many activities Oconee Springs Park has to
offer such as, playing on the Aquaglide inflatables, a leisurely
cruise on a pedal boat, or just relaxing on the beach and
enjoying the sun and sand.
Uncle Remus Golf Course
14
Hole 5 Before Hole 5 After
Clubhouse Before Clubhouse After
After a brief closure in FY ‘21, Uncle Remus Golf Course re-opened with a
new Superintendent, Michael Benton. With fresh paint at the clubhouse and
some hard work on the greens, Michael and his staff have come a long way
in their efforts to make the course a clean, well-maintained, fun, and
welcoming place for Putnam County’s citizens to play golf.
Since reopening in August of 2021, more than 500 patrons have played over
2000 rounds of golf on the golf course and the driving range. Golf course
staff continue to work hard to improve the playability of the course and the
experience of all the customers served. Uncle Remus Golf Course is uniquely
positioned to offer a great value to players of all skill levels and ages.
Citizens enjoying a game of golf
Putnam County Recreation
15
FY ‘21 saw an increase in participation in sports at the
Recreation Department. Citizens of all ages came to play their
sport of choice. Football, basketball, baseball, swimming,
cheerleading, and pickleball are just some of the sports and
activities Putnam County’s citizens were able to enjoy.
In FY ‘21, the restrooms at the Poole Recreation center were
renovated with new hardware and floors. The new design was
chosen for durability and ease of cleaning. The restroom
renovation was funded by SPLOST.
What is Putnam County doing with my money?
16
Putnam county government strives to be
responsible and completely transparent with the
taxes our citizens pay. The pie chart offers an
overview of how the county uses your tax dollars.
In FY 2021, about 63% of every dollar collected
was used to support Putnam County schools.
Around 33% of your tax dollar supported Putnam
County and its operations. (See next page for
more information.)
Finally, just under 4% went to the city of Eatonton.
3.71%
33.28%
63.01%
City
County
School
Making the most of your tax dollar…
This pie chart breaks down how the
county used the 33.28%
(referenced on page 16) of one of
your tax dollars in FY 2021.
Almost 44% of it was used for
Public Safety (Sheriff, Fire, EMS).
About 17% paid various
government expenses.
The third largest portion, a little
over 15%, of your dollar funded the
County’s Public Works for
maintenance of roads and rights-
of-way throughout Putnam County.
Almost 6% of your tax dollar
supported Recreation and Culture.
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17.07%
8.28%
43.96%
15.30%
4.43%
6.05%
4.91%
General Government
Judicial
Public Safety
Public Works
Health / Wellness
Culture / Recreation
Development
Revenue By Source 2019-2021
18
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Taxes
Sales Tax
Licenses & Permits
Intergovernmental
Charges for Services
Fines
Other
2021 2020 2019
While tax dollars do comprise most of the revenue for Putnam County, as evidenced by the graph below, Putnam County
has other sources of revenue. The graph provides a picture of Putnam County’s revenue sources for three fiscal years:
2019, 2020, and 2021. Revenues for Putnam County have steadily increased since FY 2019. Intergovernmental revenues
increased significantly in 2020 due to the CARES grant received for Public Safety pay in 2020 in response to the COVID-
19 pandemic.
Expenditures by Function 2019-2021
19
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
General Government
Judicial
Public Safety
Public Works
Health & Welfare
Culture & Recreation
Housing &
Development
2021 2020 2019
This graph provides a historical view on how Putnam County spent taxpayers’ money for fiscal year 2021 and
two fiscal years prior. With the safety of its citizens its primary concern, Putnam County continues to make
Public Safety a priority, as evidenced here, showing an increase in expenditures of over $1 million between FY
19 and FY 21.
What was the county’s net position compared to FY 2020?
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Net position refers to the county’s
“bottom line” after all financial
transactions have been reported.
Therefore, a change in net position is
the difference from one year to the
next.
The table to the right provides a
comparison for the changes in net
position in governmental and
business-type activities for the fiscal
years ended September 30, 2021 and
2020.
Governmental and business-type
activities increased the County’s net
position by $4.8 million for the year
ended September 30, 2021. As in
years past, Putnam County continues
to be in a sound position moving
forward.
2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020
Assets
Current and Other Assets 22,267,911$ 15,770,160$ 1,205,434$ 1,187,899$ 23,473,345$ 16,958,059$
Capital Assets 34,506,832 33,664,441 552,035 407,785 35,058,867 34,072,226
Total Assets 56,774,743 49,434,601 1,757,469 1,595,684 58,532,212 51,030,285
Deferred Outflows of Resources 472,249 2,442,738 - - 472,249 2,442,738
Liabilites
Other Liabilities 3,410,805 1,871,774 55,537 78,951 3,466,342 1,950,725
Long-Term Liabilities Outstanding 4,518,021 5,892,367 808,206 815,326 5,326,227 6,707,693
Total Liabilities 7,928,826 7,764,141 863,743 894,277 8,792,569 8,658,418
Deferred Inflows of Resources 1,502,401 2,007,603 - - 1,502,401 2,007,603
Net Position
Net Investment in Capital Assets 34,506,832 33,601,966 552,035 407,785 35,058,867 34,009,751
Restricted 9,878,125 8,452,800 - - 9,878,125 8,452,800
Unrestricted 3,430,808 50,829 341,691 293,622 3,772,499 344,451
Total Net Position 47,815,765$ 42,105,595$ 893,726$ 701,407$ 48,709,491$ 42,807,002$
TotalGovernmental Activities Business-Type Activities
Putnam County’s Net Position
How is the county using its assets?
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The County’s government-wide investment in capital assets as of September 30, 2021 is $35 million. The schedule
below summarizes capital assets used in both governmental and business-type activities at year-ends 2021 and 2020.
Assets used in governmental activities comprise the bulk of Putnam County’s capital assets. Currently, and for many
prior years, Special Local Option Sales Tax proceeds have funded most of these acquisitions.
Major capital asset activities in the current fiscal year included the following:
•$1.9 million of infrastructure improvements primarily related to road resurfacing
•Purchase of public safety and public works vehicles of $1.3 million
•Relocation of the Board of Elections and other improvements to the County administration building totaling
$884,106.
2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020
Land 1,302,357$ 1,149,790$ 116,395$ 116,395$ 1,418,752$ 1,266,185$
Buildings and Improvements 8,817,963 8,585,992 221,590 121,776 9,039,553 8,707,768
Machinery and Equipment 2,830,304 2,141,588 25,025 59,318 2,855,329 2,200,906
Infrastructure 21,556,208 21,738,071 - - 21,556,208 21,738,071
Construction in Progress - 49,000 189,025 110,296 189,025 159,296
34,506,832$ 33,664,441$ 552,035$ 407,785$ 35,058,867$ 34,072,226$
Governmental Activities Business-Type Activities Total
Glossary of Terms
▪Assets: Items of ownership. Assets can include cash, stock, land, buildings, machinery, furniture, and other equipment. There are several categories of Assets:
▪Capital Assets: Assets of a long-term character (beyond the
current year) that are intended to continue to be held or used, such as land, buildings, vehicles, machinery, furniture, and other equipment.
▪Net Position: The difference between (a) assets and deferred
outflows of resources and (b) liabilities and deferred inflows of resources.
▪Restricted Assets: Assets that may not be used for normal operating purposes because of the requirements of regulatory
authorities, provisions in bond contracts, or other legal agreements, but do not have to be accounted for in a separate fund.
▪Unrestricted Assets: Funds established to account for assets or
resources that may be utilized at the discretion of the Board of
Commissioners.
▪Expenditures: Government purchases which can be financed by revenue and/or government borrowing, i.e. bonds, tax anticipation, notes, etc.
▪Fund Balance: The portion of fund revenue over expenditures available for use.
▪General Fund: A fund used to account for the ordinary operations of
the County government that are financed from taxes and other
general revenue.
▪Liabilities: Future spending of revenue as a result of past transactions
and other past events. Liabilities are reported on a balance sheet and
are divided into two categories:
▪Current Liabilities: These liabilities are reasonably expected to be
liquidated within a year. They usually include payables such as wages,
accounts, taxes, accounts payable, unearned revenue when adjusting
entries, portions of long-term bonds to be paid this year, short-term
obligations, and others.
▪Long-term Liabilities: These liabilities are reasonably expected not to
be liquidated within a year. They usually include long-term bonds,
notes payable, long-term leases, pension obligations, and long-term
product warranties. In these liabilities, the County has to pay after a
fixed period of time, usually longer than a year.
▪Revenue: Financial resources other than from interfund transfers and
debt issue proceeds. Putnam County receives Revenue through
property taxes, sales and other taxes, licenses and permits, grants,
fines and forfeitures, charges for service, administration fees,
investment income, and miscellaneous sources.
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