Bulloch County’s net position increased by $4.7 million in FY 2025, as the county made investments in capital assets, like land and infrastructure, and took on debt to acquire those assets.
Richard Deal of Lanier, Deal & Deal presented to county commissioners Tuesday morning during the regular commission meeting. His review of the county’s financial position was based on financial documents and a financial report provided by the county finance department.
Read the audit here. The audit is an unmodified audit, which means no findings are made, and includes a memo from CFO Kristi King. FY 2025 began July 1, 2024 and ended June 30, 2025.
AUDIT HIGHLIGHTS
The General Fund, which serves as the county’s primary operating fund, ended the year with a balance of approximately $20.4 million. This is a decrease of roughly $3 million from FY 2024.
At the end of fiscal year 2025, the County had a total net position (assets and deferred outflows of resources exceeded liabilities and deferred inflows of resources) of $153,218,826 compared to the fiscal year 2024 figure of $148,486,204. This represents an increase of $4,732,622 or 3.2% from the previous fiscal year.
The largest portion (65.2%) of the County’s net position of FY 2025 reflects its investment in capital assets such as land, buildings, equipment, and infrastructure (roads and bridges) less any related debt to acquire those assets that is still outstanding.
Net investment in capital assets increased by $9,688,059 or 10.7% from the previous fiscal year
The restricted portion of the County’s net position (26.4%) represents resources that are subject to external restrictions on how they may be used. The remaining portion of the County’s net position (8.4%) represents unrestricted resources, which can be used for anything
REVENUES
County officials attributed much of the fiscal growth to increases in property tax and sales tax collections.
Governmental activity revenues totaled roughly $132.9 million during FY 2025, up from $130.4 million the previous year.
- Tax revenues accounted for more than $95.2 million, representing an increase of approximately $6.25 million over the prior year.
- This increase was caused by steady growth in both property tax ($3,857,050 increase in property taxes) and sales tax ($1,755,487 increase in sales taxes) collections throughout the year.
The second largest source of revenue for the County is fees, fines, and charges for services. These revenues were $15,915,658, which is a decrease of $44,472 from the prior year
The General Fund recognized revenues of $1,367,778 more than the final budget of $72,311,212.
- This excess arose from higher than anticipated taxes ($531,199), charges for services ($390,542), licenses and permits ($138,661), fines and forfeitures ($403,934), and investment revenues ($13,369).
Splash in the ‘Boro Waterpark In FY 2025, Aquatic Center revenues decreased $388,588 from the prior year. This decrease was due to less favorable weather conditions and lower attendance during the 2025 summer season. Expenses decreased by $258,798 for the fiscal year, which was due to lower personnel costs – pension expense was lower since the previous year was the first year of the plan and had a higher than normal pension expense; also part-time wages were lower because lower staffing levels are needed when weather is unfavorable and attendance is low or the park closes.
Radio System In FY 2025, the fund’s revenues increased by $43,375 and expenses increased by $30,695 from the prior year.
GROWTH
The audit noted that the county’s population has grown to 85,454 residents and projects total employment to increase from approximately 37,179 jobs in 2025 to nearly 54,900 jobs by 2050.
- Retail Trade comprise the County’s largest industry, accounting for 25.2% of total employment
- Accommodation and Food Services at 21.1%
- Healthcare and Social Assistance at 20.7%
- Construction at 12.4%;
- Transportation and Warehousing at 11.0%.
- Unemployment rate remained between 2.5 and 4% .
County retail sales increased from approximately $1.08 billion in 2020 to more than $1.45 billion in 2024.
Single-family residential construction continued its upward trend, with the county issuing 378 single-family housing permits in 2025 compared to 351 in 2023.
Per capita income improved in the last decade from $28,734 in 2016 to $34,384 in 2025.
- Due to the presence of a significant student population, per capita income is lower than many other comparably sized communities.
EXPENDITURES
County spending increased in FY 2025 – approximately 8% to roughly $127.4 million.
Public safety remained the county’s largest expenditure category at more than $50.4 million, accounting for nearly 40% percent of governmental expenses.
- This is an increase of $2,378,732 over FY 2024, which county officials say were driven largely by higher personnel costs, pay raises, and the addition of positions in law enforcement, EMS, and fire services to keep pace with population growth.
Public works costs also rose sharply, increasing by more than $5 million due in large part to road repairs and infrastructure damage associated with Tropical Storm Debby.
The largest single jump came in sanitation expenses, which ballooned from approximately $5.6 million in FY 2024 to more than $17.2 million in FY 2025. County officials attributed that increase primarily to the extensive debris removal operations required after Hurricane Helene struck the region in September 2024.
General government expenses accounted for $11,213,689 or 8.8% of total governmental activities, a decrease of $131,187 from the prior year.
Housing and development expenses accounted for $2,815,602 or 2.2% of total governmental activities. This is a decrease of $8,010,596 from the prior year and is primarily due to a one-time investment in a regional water and wastewater project in neighboring Bryan County from FY 2024.
The remaining expenses include recreation and library ($9,119,803), health and welfare ($391,828), the airport ($1,341,625) and the judiciary ($6,892,692).
- TSPLOST generated more than $18.2 million in tax revenues during FY 2025 for road resurfacing, bridge repairs, airport improvements, drainage upgrades, and transportation infrastructure projects.
- SPLOST
- 2019 program generated approximately $20 million during the fiscal year and funded a range of capital improvements, including public safety projects, sanitation initiatives, recreation improvements, and equipment purchases.
- *In March 2025, voters approved a six-year SPLOST renewal expected to generate approximately $138 million, which will help fund the jail expansion.
- Collections began in October 2025.
- Major projects to be completed in fiscal year 2026 include:
- renovation and expansion of the Stilson Fire and EMS Station
- the construction of athletic fields and other amenities at a new park in Portal
- purchases of ambulances and fire apparatus.
- improvements to solid waste processing
- technology
- equipment upgrades for elections, public safety, and recreation
GRANTS
- LMIG funds from GDOT range from $1.5 to $1.7 million for road resurfacing, signage, and striping.
- Transportation Alternatives Program grant in the amount of $1,594,400 has been secured for engineering and design work on an expansion to the County’s popular recreational Greenway Trail.
- The FAA will provide improvements to runways and construction of additional airport hangars.
- COVID-19 Revenue Finally, the County has expended the remainder of the $15.4 million in funding through the American Rescue Plan Act for mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative economic impacts. The County leveraged nearly half of this funding to invest in a regional water and sewer infrastructure project in support of new industry. Additional federal grant funding will be used for a future wastewater project that is in its early conceptual stages.
CONCLUSIONS
The county did not receive any significant findings or deficiencies from the auditor.
The report also noted that the county has earned the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for six consecutive years, along with the organization’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for eight consecutive years.
