Bibb commissioners look to trim millions from budget requests | Politics | Macon.com

The Bibb County commissioners’ first glance at the fiscal 2014 budget Friday didn’t reveal too many surprises, but rather a lot of unknowns.

The initial draft budget shows a deficit of $19.9 million — $76.7 million in projected revenues against $96.6 million in requests — but Bibb County Commission Chairman Sam Hart said that deficit will decrease significantly as department heads start making reductions and county officials get more solid numbers for revenues and expenses.

“Nothing really leaps out,” Hart said when asked about significant changes from fiscal 2013. “With consolidation, the costs are a little higher than have been anticipated. But we’re talking to people, and we’ll try to eliminate (budget items).”

The budget process itself will be significantly different this year, Hart said, because commissioners are only budgeting for the next six months. Once the county merges with the city Jan. 1, the new consolidated government will take over the operations of general services, and the general funds of the city and county will merge.

via Bibb commissioners look to trim millions from budget requests | Politics | Macon.com.