Coweta County

is in excellent financial health.

That's the

verdict from Bates, Carter and Company, which just completed the county's

audit for 2000.

County Finance

Officer Rick Smoot said the company's opinion of the county is unqualified,

which means there were no glaring errors or problems in the county's bookkeeping

system.

Smoot said

the combined balance sheet shows the county had a strong financial position

and revenues exceeded expenditures in the general fund.

Last year,

the county spent $27.7 million in general funds, while collecting $31.4

million in revenue.

The overall

fund balance of the general fund grew $1.7 million, for a 6.38 percent

increase.

Last year,

the county collected just over $12 million in special purpose local option

sales taxes, distributing $4.1 million of that to municipalities and spending

$6.7 million on capital projects in the county, including roads and bridges,

recreation, fire and water.

Smoot said

the county's strong financial position was demonstrated by national bond

ratings companies increasing the county's rating from A to AA.