![Article Image Alt Text]( "The Clay County ABC board met Tuesday, Aug. 13 to discuss needed building improvements, personnel evaluations and budgets. From left, board chairman Tommy Moore, Hayesville ABC store manager Denny Patterson, board member Buck Shaver and board member Carl Patterson. Lorrie Ross • Clay County Progress")
The Clay County ABC board met Tuesday, Aug. 13 to discuss needed building improvements, personnel evaluations and budgets. From left, board chairman Tommy Moore, Hayesville ABC store manager Denny Patterson, board member Buck Shaver and board member Carl Patterson. Lorrie Ross • Clay County Progress
Clay County’s ABC store continues to contribute to the county’s coffers. During the regular meeting held Tuesday, Aug. 13, ABC board finance officer Olivia Anderson shared financial reports for both June and July, showing a profit distribution of $146,250 given to Clay County from the June budget. That is $5,000 more than what was paid to the county in June 2018. It is also in addition to the mandatory quarterly distributions of $4,500 and $3,500 for alcohol education and law enforcement, respectively.
In a follow-up with Clay County Manager Mark Pullium, he said the $146,250 June profit distribution from the ABC store was budgeted into the county’s general fund. North Carolina Alcohol Beverage Control Commission laws do not permit ABC boards to retain profits other than small cushions of money which may be retained to be used for building maintenance or repairs as well as other miscellaneous business expenses for the times when business is slower. ABC boards are voluntary boards who help make financial decisions such as building and employment needs, based on advice from the store manager.
Anderson presented the complete financial reports, including these details. Total income for June was $224, 801.26, which was $1,475.19 more than June 2018, even though 2019 had one less business day. After the cost of goods sold, June 2019 gross profit was $55,926, while gross profit for June 2018 was $54, 060.80.
For July, total income was $260,040.23, which is $19,690.22 higher than the 2018 July total income of $240,350.01. After costs of goods sold, July 2019 gross profit was $63,449.80 more than 24 percent higher than July 2018 which was $58,753.62. No distributions were made in July; therefore, the net income was $30, 552.31 after expenses. That is 11.7 percent higher than July 2018 net income of $27,689.87. July 2019 had one more business day than July 2018, according to Anderson.
Board member Buck Shaver asked Clay County ABC store manager Denny Patterson if the increase is because people are buying more expensive products than in the past. Patterson said that is some of it, but he believes the increase is for another reason, too. “There are a lot of people in the area now,” Patterson said.
In addition to the financial reports, board chair Tommy Moore, board members Carl Patterson and Shaver heard manger Denny Patterson’s report. “I’ve got good employees,” the manager said. “Everything’s going good.” He said they had placed the first holiday orders.
The group discussed potential building upgrades and issues with cooling the ABC store’s warehouse during hot summers months, as well. “September tends to be slower,” Patterson said. “That would probably be the best time to make some improvements.”
After the regular meeting, the board went into executive session to review personnel evaluations.
Denny Patterson said the board gave employee raises ranging between three and five percent.
The Clay County ABC board meets bi-monthly in the Clay County Building Inspector’s meeting room.