Revenues and expenditures initially cited at the July 21 Swain County Commission meeting may raise questions about sustainability and cash flow.
Finance Officer Cally Elliot presented the fiscal year report, a mixed bag of incorrect forecasts, departmental deficits and revenue surplus.
To the first point, the county expected to rake in $24.4 million, an $8.6 million underestimation of its nearly $33 million in actual revenue. The $24.5 million expense forecast was also inaccurate; true costs amounted to $28.9 million. The difference between revenue and costs was about $4.1 million, classified as net income. But because the county didn’t suddenly become flush with cash, some questioned the surplus funds.