Financial issues dominated Monday’s White County Commission meeting.
The commission approved refinancing of the detention center bonds from the current 3.16 percent down to a 1.72-percent rate. Additionally, commissioners voted to issue some additional bonds at a 2.26 rate to obtain funds for work at recreation department and Yonah Preserve projects.
Commission Chairman Travis Turner called the refinancing a tremendous opportunity.
"Based on all the experts, they are saying that they are expecting rates to possibly go up in 2017, so it was the consensus of the board to move forward and take advantage of these low rates at this time because when they start going up, who knows if we will ever see rates this low ever again," Turner said.
According to Turner, the refinancing of the detention center bonds did not change the payoff deadline of four years.
Turner said the recreation funds, if done correctly, will give the county the opportunity to further those programs for generations to come.
In addition to those items, commissioners also heard a report from Clay Pilgrim of Rushton and Co., the county auditors, that the county has a strong financial position and clean audit findings.
Kevin Hamby of Hamby Management shared with commissioners a strong Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds position.
The commissioners approved asking the engineering firm Carter & Sloope to come up with a design plan for Yonah Preserve recreation facilities.
