GAINESVILLE - Hall County Commissioners adopted a new budget and hoped for the best Thursday.
The vote was unanimous to accept a $70 million spending plan for FY 2004, increased $2 million since Monday to include, among other things, new sheriff's patrol cars and a smaller North Hall tag office.
The added money also includes a full time juvenile judge, a juvenile prosecutor,and a full time magistrate judge.
An additional .47 mill rate insures a tax increase but is intended to soften the blow from property tax re-assessments, though the actual tax increase amount won't be known until July 24, when the Commission sets the millage.
Commission members all agreed to roll back millage as much as possible to offset re-assessments.
Hall County Commission Vice Chairman Roger Cole Thursday blamed the county's big budget on growth.
"That's really the core of it," Cole said.
"It was driven by too much population growth. The problems have been pushed from year to year and now they've come home to roost."
Finance Director Carl Stephens said the expanded budget is still no frill, reflecting a downturn in sales tax revenues.
"It's obvious some of the things we cut are some of the things departments needed," Stephens said. "We still will have cries throughout the year from departments who still have needs."
Thursday
May 2nd, 2024
11:04PM
