CAIRO — Grady officials learned Tuesday the county spent over $500,000 more than projected in 2017.    

The Grady County Board of Commissioners approved balancing its fiscal year 2017 budget to reflect overspending a total of $503,044.12. 

“You have a budget, you just went outside the budget,” Accounting Manager Donna Johnson told commissioners of the overspending. “We actually started with a budget that was not balanced to begin with.” 

Johnson also noted the approved fiscal year 2017 budget was not listed in the official minutes. 

The Tired Creek Lake and Grady County Road departments, Johnson said, overspent the most in 2017. 

According to county documents, spending at Tired Creek Lake saw an excess of $387,134.12 and the county road department netted $259,239 in excess spending. 

Approximately $1.2 million and $723,000 were budgeted in 2017 for the Grady County Road Department and Tired Creek Lake, respectively. 

Excess spending came from salaries, equipment repairs, and other expenses, according to Johnson.  

“All of that was not exactly budgeted in,” she added. 

Commissioner LaFaye Copeland said the budget deficit was “here” and the commission “has got to fix it.”

The 2017 budget was completed under former County Administrator Carlos Tobar. Johnson said she could not justify previous actions regarding the 2017 budget but was looking to correct the issue.

Grady County spent approximately $13.9 million in 2017. The 2017 budget estimated $12.9 million in expenses. 

“That revenue and expense at the end has got to balance,” Johnson said. “Legally, we have to have a balanced budget.”

Johnson also said if the budget was not balanced, Grady County could be written up during its next financial audit. 

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.