GAINESVILLE – The FY 2019 Hall County government budget is now official after receiving unanimous approval from the Hall County Commission Thursday evening, and they did so just days before the current budget is set to expire.
The most tedious process of the year for local governing bodies (budget preparation and refinement) was made extra challenging this year after a major change in the Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) took effort between the county and its largest municipalities following a failed attempt a year ago.
June was ripe with public hearings and informational meetings regarding the budget, the proposed millage rate and the various aspects of the new SDS.
Citizen comment and turnout at those meetings, however, was minimal. Murrayville resident Doug Aiken said during public comment Thursday evening, “I was concerned… since we were raising the millage rate…but the public didn’t show up anyway. This past Thursday (June 21st public hearing) I was out of state and nobody showed up.”
County Administrator Jock Connell publically expressed his gratitude to county staff for laboring to have the budget ready to become effective on Monday, July 1st, the start of the 2019 fiscal year.
“I’m confident that the adoption of this budget will shore up some areas that were very, very much needed to be shored up in county government. Thank you,” Connell said.
In a media release following the meeting county officials summarized the FY 2019 budget and tax package as follows:
The General Fund millage rate, which is the property tax rate that supports daily operations, was adjusted down from 6.70 mills to 5.360 mills due to the establishment of three new tax service districts. The Fire Fund millage rate, which supports Fire Services, remains at 2.65 mills for unincorporated residents and 4.08 for incorporated residents.
The three new tax service districts were carved out of the General Fund in this year's budget as a result of the 2017 Service Delivery Agreement. Those new tax service districts include Emergency Services (with a millage rate set at 0.571 mills), Development Services (with a millage rate set at 1.005 mills) and Parks & Leisure (with a millage rate set at 0.364 mills). More information about the Service Delivery Agreement and the three new tax service districts can be found by clicking here.
The General Fund budget is $95.99 million and includes major functions of the government, including public safety, public works, judicial, general government and libraries. In addition to the General Fund, the Fire Fund and three new service tax districts, the total county budget includes other operational and capital funds that are self-supported by user fees and other revenue sources. The total county budget for all funds is $266.27 million.
