Note: This story was updated on Oct. 27 to remove a mistaken reference to another name for the county’s rainy day fund. On Oct. 28, comments were added from Commissioner Vanita Hullander.
A brief budget update last week has caused long-simmering concerns about Catoosa County’s spending and a recent property tax increase to boil over again.
Through the end of September, county expenditures were $2 million less than budgeted, and the county has a $3 million revenue surplus, Catoosa Chief Financial Officer Rachel Clark said at county Board of Commissioners meeting last week. That’s after $5.5 million was added to the county’s rainy day fund.
Fiscal year 2022 ended Sept. 30, and fiscal year 2023 began Oct. 1.
(READ MORE: Catoosa County Commission poised to OK budget, tax increase)