On

average, Fayette residents paid $293.80 each in

1999 to operate the county government.

That's

the bad news. The good news is that Fayette's

governmental cost is about 30 percent less than

in most counties across Georgia.

Statewide,

the average is $398.96 per capita, according to a

recent report from the state Department of

Community Affairs.

The

report also reveals that Fayette is spending only

$21.25 per capita for construction and other

capital expenditures, compared with $379.88

statewide.

Although

the capital expenditures are currently extremely

low for Fayette, that's about to change, County

Commission Chairman Harold Bost pointed out.

County

commissioners hope to begin work soon on a $60

million county jail and courthouse project that

will increase the capital projects budget, and

several transportation improvements are scheduled

for the near future as well.

But

overall, "This report really looks

good," said Bost. "It's some indication

of the type of management we're doing here as far

as expenses."

breakdown of expenditures by major category

reveals that 37 percent of Fayette's budget, the

largest segment, goes to public safety and

courts, with administration second at 17.9

percent.

"This

shows that you're putting your money where your

money is best spent for the benefit of the

public," county manager Billy Beckett told

county commissioners during their workshop last

week.

"We

like to use [the DCA report] as a report card

every year," Beckett said.

And

the county gets an "A" for 1999, he

said.

Counties

of about the same size as Fayette, those with

populations of 50,000 to 100,000, reported an

average expenditure of $347.78 per person in

1999.

Officials

will get a more detailed picture of the county's

financial situation soon. The annual financial

report is "due anytime now," said

Beckett.

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