Population growth to cost county thousands

Published 7:30 am Saturday, March 26, 2011

There will be a cost for Whitfield County’s growth documented in the 2010 census.

Beginning July 1, nine elected officials will receive salary and benefit increases totaling $23,116 for 2011 because the county’s population now tops 100,000. Salaries of some elected officials are set by the state and are based on population.

In 2012, that amount will double to $46,233 for the full calendar year. Whitfield County government officials provided the figures.

“It’s just the way it is,” said Mike Babb, chairman of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners. “That’s the way it’s always been.”

 The increase is another budget issue the cash-strapped county must deal with. In December 2010, commissioners passed a $42.2 million budget for 2011, down from $46.5 million for 2010. The county plans to take just over $3.4 million from its reserves to balance the 2011 budget. County officials expect to end 2011 with a $10.4 million reserve fund.

Commissioners will furlough most county workers four days this year, saving about $400,000. Department heads can add additional furlough days. Furloughs are mandatory time off without pay.

Receiving the biggest pay hike will be Tax Commissioner Danny Sane, whose current $91,560 salary will swell by $5,893. He will also receive $837 more in benefits. Coroner Bobbie Dixon will see the smallest salary increase as her $27,386 salary jumps $900. Her benefits will increase by $293.

Total salary increases will be $39,495 for 2012. Commissioners will not receive any pay increases.

The seven other elected officials will have pay raises ranging from $2,273 to $5,647 while their benefits will go up from between $586 and $837.

Total benefits increases will be $6,738 for 2012. All benefits increases are estimates.

County officials spoke with representatives of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia for guidance on possible changes and also asked county department heads if they anticipated any adjustments.

Babb said the county will probably have to add a fire marshal, who will review building plans, because of the new census numbers. The building inspector’s office currently performs those duties. Babb believes that position will be filled by a current employee but didn’t know if it would include a pay increase.

“When you’re adding more responsibility, do you also add more pay?” Babb said.

Other elected officials receiving pay raises are Magistrate Judge Sidney Baxter, Probate Court Judge Sheri Blevins, Sheriff Scott Chitwood, Magistrate Judge Kay Cope, Magistrate Judge Chris Griffin, Clerk of Court Melica Kendrick and Chief Magistrate Judge Haynes Townsend.

Whitfield County’s population stands at 102,599, up from 83,525 in 2000, according to the 2010 census. The white, non-Hispanic population rose to 63,818 in 2010 from 60,294 in 2000. The Hispanic population increased to 32,471 in 2010 from 18,417 in 2000.

Many state and federal rules are tied to population — including pollution rules and burn permits — so there could be a larger economic impact on Whitfield County. County officials will learn those changes in the coming weeks and months.

Despite the negative impact on the county’s budget, there are reasons to be excited about topping the 100,000 mark. That’s the “magic number” when many large retail businesses and restaurants begin to seriously look at communities, said Elyse Cochran, director of the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority.

“We’re put in a completely different category of attractiveness once we exceed the 100,000 population mark,” Cochran said.

One large retail store coming to Dalton is Kohl’s. Site work for the store is being done at its location on Shugart Road with an expected opening date in September. Local officials and the project developer have been tight-lipped about which business would be on the former Propex site. However, this week signs went up announcing that Kohl’s is coming.

Kohl’s is a general merchandise store carrying apparel, accessories and shoes for men, women and children along with home products including bedding, luggage and more.