The first Chamber of Commerce Breakfast of 2020 featured Cherokee County Probate Judge/Commission Chairman Tim Burgess as the guest speaker. Judge Burgess made a presentation on the “State of the County” covering several issues surrounding the county government.

The first major point discussed was the importance of the upcoming 2020 Census. Judge Burgess explained that the results of the Census affects the county’s income and also has a direct affect of District lines because redistricting is done following each Census.

Burgess also spoke briefly about the current county budget –

Burgess explained that the public safety portion of the budget, excluding Animal Control, was roughly $4.1 million or right at half of the operating budget.

Burgess said that this year’s election budget was $207,000. Each election held in the county comes at a cost of roughly $60,000. Judge Burgess did say that a portion of that money is reimbursed back by the state but most if the cost is paid by the county.

The Cherokee County Highway Department does not operate out of the General Fund, it is funded by the 7 Cent Gas Tax. This year, the Cherokee County Highway Department Budget is $1.7 million. The Highway Department also has a 3R Budget (Restoration, Resurfacing & Re-striping) of approximately $1 million.

All paving throughout the county comes from a one cent sales tax passed in 1994 which is approximately $1.9 million per year. That money is split four ways and the county commission pays some debt services out of that fund. That makes the total Highway Department budget for the year $4.6 million.

The Highway Department did have some major projects that were completed in 2019 –

Judge Burgess also briefly touched on an upcoming preparedness training involving elected and other county officials; this training will be hosted by the Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency to help better prepare our county officials for events such as the 2019 Flood which occurred in February of that year.

Burgess said that there are plans in the works to construct a new county courthouse and to restore/re-purpose the current courthouse to be used for community activities. At this time, there is not a timeline on when construction of the new facility will begin.   

You can listen to Judge Burgess’s entire presentation by clicking the link provided below.