Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Nov. 27, 1991, edition 1 / Page 13
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\ Multiple Roles Please Brunswick THE BRUNSWmcfeKACON D WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 27, 1991 [ ^ County's Finance Officer II Y TKRRY POPK ilhia Hahn manages a $40 million a year business wiih a watchful eye, lor the money she invests and uses to pay Ihc hills belongs to county taxpayers. The Brunswick County finance director was recently picked as president of the N.C. Association of County Finance Officers. She was pleased to add to her growing list of roles, ixnh on the job and outside of the office ? accountant, associalional leader and mother. She will serve a one-year term, which has the Holdcn Beach resident plotting ways to let the public know more about the associa tion. At her alma mater, Wingate College, ac counting and public administration students were often stereotyped by others as the "class nerds," she said, forever keeping their noses in stock market reports or ledgers. But during association meetings these days, she jokes with colleagues about that "nerd" label and insists members arc a well rounded group of individuals. While serv ing as secretary of the association in 1989, Ms. Hahn convinced the group to hold its slate fall conference in Brunswick County. While here, they met Cathy Carlisle al a friendly oyster roast and sat amazed as the state oyster shucking champion demonstrat ed her unique skill. Members cruised along the waterway at Calabash and fell in love with the coastal community. "They want 10 conic back," said Ms. Hahn. The "they" arc the 100 North Carolina county financc officers, their assistants and Council of Governments finance officers who make up the association and its affili ate membership. Though formed in 1942, Ms. Hahn be lieves the association needs to become a lit tle more visible. She plans to appoint a newsletter committee that can spread the word about the group she joined in 1972. The association has a certification pro gram for financc officers and informs mem bers of new financial laws through regular workshops. It also has a legislative commit tee to assist the N.C. Association of County Commissioners, which lobbies legislators on financial matters. Financc officers stay out of the actual lobbying game, she said. Members also give an annual scholarship to a UNC-Chapcl Hill master's degree stu dent in public admini stration. It's namci' al ter UNC alumnus Howard Holly, a longtime Pender County finance officer who died in L r Q " Basically , we're a rural county trying to provide urban services . Its not free. It cant be free." -Finance Director Lithia Hahn LITHIA H ANN'S office manages a $40 million a year business? Brunswick County go\7rnm7nL?n 1986. Before she was hired by Brunswick County in 1986, Ms. Hahn served lour years as assistant finance officer of Stanley County. Today, she and her staff of six em ployees are responsible for Brunswick County's payroll, paying die bills for all of county government, assisting with an annu al independent audit and compiling the county's yearly budget. Ms Hahn speaks with 20 years of experi ence in finance. "It's a big business," she acknowledges. "When 1 see the stacks of bills that come in to this office, I often wonder how we are able to do all of the paperwork." If the financing of capital improvement projects for water expansion is added to the county budget, it comes close to being a S60 million a year business. "Basically, we're a rural county trying to provide urban services," she adds. "It's not free. It can't be free." Because of state budget shortfalls and cutbacks this spring, it was a particularly lough budget preparation period for many association members, including Ms. Hahn. Twenty counties had to adopt interim bud gets bccausc of the uncertainty of receiving state funds. Ms. Hahn hopes that uncertainty is a thing of the past, that legislators will let counties know early in the game what funds arc available to make the county finance of ficers' jobs easier around budget time in June. "Thai's been our focus more ihan any thing In the last six or seven years," she said. "This pasi year, it was particularly troublesome." Preparing a county budget, said Ms Hahn, takes months. "! love doing budgets," she said. "What people don't understand is that it's a very long process. Each budget ties in to the next budget. When there's so much uncertainty out there, you don't know where you're standing." Those who work with figures often try to see the larger picture behind the data, what it might mean about the local or national economy, the banking industry or strength of the stock market. "I love doing financial statements, ana lyzing financial data, doing graphs, to see what kind of impact they may haye," said Ms. Hahn. According to her advice, it is a perfect time to borrow money, although the econo my is rather sluggish. "I think next year is w hen we're going to see the changes," she added, "late next year to early spring. Hopefully, by the fall of next year, things arc going to pick up to off set this downward trend." For Brunswick County now, her worry now is projected revenues for the 1992-93 year. "When you see the economy and the fi nancial side of the economy slipping a little bit, you get tense," Ms Hahn said. Outside of the office, though, people rarely ask her about the county budget or fi nances, she said. It helps her leave the job behind and to concentrate instead on relax ing at her Holden Beach condominium, tak ing walks along the beach and rearing her teen-age daughter. The two worlds aren't entirely separate. In her office are photographs of Leslie, 13, who will celebrate her 14th birthday Thanksgiving Day. Already Leslie's talking about owning a car, says her mother. But Ms. Hahn views the situation as an opportunity to teach a teen-ager a lesson or two about financial re sponsibility. Financc officer, mother, associational leader ? multiple roles keep Lithia Hahn busy, with no regrets. When her one-year term as association president expires next fall, a new president will be chosen, but as past president she will serve another year on the executive committee. Meanwhile, during her tenure she hopes the public will gain a better understanding ol the associauon and the difficult job faced by finance officers. It's Turkey Time We've saved you a place at our Thanksgiving table. Join us for a traditional holiday feast with all the trimmings. Thanksgiving Dinner will be served from 3 pm Hke *%<ycc&e OCEAN ISLE CAUSEWAY ^ Beside UCB 579-3787 ?1?1 THE BRUNSWICK BEACON r Brunswick Islands Medical Associates Marcus R. Williams, MD Michael W. Wilkerson, MD Gary D. Ross, MD Board Certified Internal Medicine Samuel W. Kirtley, MD Board Certified Family Practice emphasis in Pediatrics 579-0707 By Appointment Only South Brunswick Islands Medical Park Hwy. 17, 4 miles south of Shallotte Medicare Participating ? BC DS Costuise CARE PROMPT MEDICAL CARE -HOURS Monday -Saturday 9 am-7 pm Sunday 12-4 pm 579-0800 South Brunswick Islands Medical Park Hwy. 17, 4 miles south of Shallotte gi99i the b^unswck beai Market Express is now Express Stop 2 For 1 Special \ Buy any Frozen Yogurt Product & Get One Free Wityi Coupon! j[iw Mi#! yogurt cup or larger t Good at all three illli Locations Cannot be used in conjunction with any other special One coupon per item purchased Express Stop ___r 24 Hours A Day-7 Days "TT^lfm ^1 Shallotte-Jct. Hwy. 17 & Holden Bch Rd. J III C North Myrtle Beach-S.C. Hwy. 9 Yaupon Beach-1 00 Yaupon Dr. Join The BBS Copier Express ! Need copies? Get in the express line with our new self serve copy machine. It's fast! It's easy! ^ fr It's Only 10c a copy! Brunswick ymg~ Business Service Main St., Shallotte, 754-8300 Town of Holden Beach RETIREMENT PARTY The Town of Holden Beach will be honoring Raymond Simpson, Chief of Police, with a Retirement Party on Wednesday, December 11, 1991, at 4:00 P.M. ALL RESIDENTS OF HOLDEN BEACH ARE INVITED. (Please bring a covered dish). EVERYDAY FIDDLER'S SPECIAL Includes fish, shrimp, deviled crab, clam strips, French fries, cole slaw and hush puppies. $8.95 GETI^FREE SEAFOOD ? DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS SANDWICH PLATES ? SALADS SUNDAY LUNCH BUFFET 11:30-2 P.M. SANDFIDDLER ! SEAFOOD RESTAURANT | I >\W. 1 3Q EAST ? SHALLOTTE ? 754-816K '?
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 27, 1991, edition 1
13
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