Gregg County budget audit gets reviewed for commissioners
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

The assets of Gregg County exceeded its liabilities at the close of last fiscal year by $91,780,457, with $36,146,149 being unrestricted net assets.

Chris Pruitt, with Pattillo, Brown & Hill L.L.P.,. reviewed the counties budget audit for commissioners yesterday.

County financial highlights include:

The county's total net assets increased by $15,762,442, primarily because of fund balance increases and infrastructure improvements related to capital grants and contribution;

° As of Sept. 30, last year, Gregg County's governmental funds reported combined ending fund balances of $35,941,371, an increase of $9,982,972 or 38.45 percent in comparison with the prior year, leaving the county with an unreserved fund balance of $35,599,643;

° At the end of Fiscal Year 2007, total unreserved fund balance for the county's General Fund was $27,085,477 or 103.14 percent - compared to 75.6 percent in 2006 and 42.4 percent in 2005;

° The county's outstanding bonds payable decreased by $860,000 or 50 percent during the last fiscal year, leaving outstanding debt at $860,000 - until a final payment made in March cleared the debt totally;

° Capital Grants and Contributions increased by $2, 075,119, or 66.30 percent over fiscal 2006, because of continuing grant contributions for infrastructure rehabilitation at East Texas Regional Airport; and

° Major expenditure increases for fiscal year 2007 include $989,099, or 22.49 percent, in Transportation and Roads, with $1,768,104 or 17.99 percent, in Public Safety and $553,706, or 25.71 percent, in Health and Human Services.

° Bill Stoudt, Gregg County judge, and Linda Bailey, budget director, received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association, for outstanding budget preparation.

In other business the court approved the county health department's tobacco fund recommendations to give healthrelated projects funding to the American Red Cross; Gladewater Police Department; Longview Police Department; Deaf Action Center; East Texas Treatment Center; LeTourneau University; Longview Community Ministries; Longview Noonday Lions Club; Longview Wellness Center; Special Health Resources for Texas; and Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center of East Texas.