After failing to reach a consensus on the FY 2025 budget at their meeting Monday night, Habersham County commissioners are expected to approve a continuing resolution at a called meeting Wednesday. The resolution would allow the county to continue operating under the current budget until a new spending measure is approved.
The June 26 meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the jury assembly room at the Habersham County Courthouse in Clarkesville.
The earliest a new budget could be adopted would be next week. The county must advertise the meeting before
Budget presentation
At the start of Monday’s meeting, Chief Financial Officer Tim Sims presented an updated FY 2025 budget to commissioners. It includes $622,702 in additional spending for 12 new positions and capital improvements.
Sims says those items were added back into the budget after commissioners approved them. They include six new full-time firefighters, two part-time animal control technicians, two IT workers, a second public information officer, and one public facilities technician.
The general fund revenue increased by the same amount due to more accurate numbers from the tax digest. However, the county is still waiting for the final digest to be completed.
With these additions, Habersham County’s proposed budget is now $85.5 million — a $12.2 million increase over this year’s operating budget.
Commission discussion
After the presentation, Akins asked if there were any questions from the commission before hearing from the public. Commissioner Bruce Palmer pointed out that the county gives $35,000 to Partnership Habersham, and the Development Authority gives $15,000 to Partnership Habersham.
“I like all the people that’s on that board. It’s supposed to be a partnership but seems like it’s a one-sided partnership,” he said.
Palmer explained that the executive board only has one elected official on it.
“Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me for the county to give money to something that we don’t have any say or control over,” he added, stating the money might be better spent on the county having its own economic development person.
“I know we have had some disagreements, maybe about the way they have done some things,” Akins replied. “In general, I think they’re doing good for the community.”
Akins expressed to the commission he hoped that the county would continue the partnership.
Commissioner Bruce Harkness concurred with Palmer, “I have similar concerns,” he said to Akins.
Harkness budget concerns
Harkness also expressed his concerns about the budget. He explained that the commission was given four pages related to the budget approximately a month ago and staff went over that. He added that the commission was given three pages of positions and capital improvements to add back to the budget. Last week, he requested a copy of the actual budget, which he said he received on Friday. That budget was 13 pages.
“That’s when I was floored,” Harkness said. After reviewing that document, he told the commission that he had several questions and concerns.
Akins explained to Harkness that is why they had the budget meetings in March. That was when the commission received notebooks with every line item from every department. Harkness acknowledged that he had received them.
County Manager Alicia Vaughn stated that all of that detail was presented at the budget meetings in March and the Commissioners were asked to attend. Harkness told her that he did attend.
Harkness pointed out that the commission was only given three pages to approve or disapprove. Akins explained that those pages were the additional positions that department heads requested, as well as repairs and maintenance to facilities and equipment due to growth in the department.
“Anything past that, we need to have a discussion about cutting services. We can have that discussion if that’s what you want to have,” Akins told him.
Harkness replied, “I’m not talking about cutting services.” He added, “I’m just talking about in our meetings in the future, these five commissioners are supposed to go over all this. I would like to go over all of it.”
March budget meetings
Vaughn explained that was what the budget meetings were for. She added that Harkness was there for some but not all. She explained that is the process the county goes through for comments from the commissioners.
“I guess what I am saying then is I just don’t like the process then,” Harkness said.
Harkness questioned why all of the departments had contract services, specifically the commission. “We’ve got $60,000 in contract services. What are the commissioners contracting services out for?” he asked.
Vaughn explained that they go over that during the budget meetings. Sims explained that one of those services was Partnership Habersham.
Akins explained to Harkness that the time to ask those questions was at the budget meetings and he had nearly three months to ask those questions.
Harkness told Akins he was at some of those meetings. Vaughn interjected that he only attended the courts portion and not those departments that fall under the commission. She added that he was not physically present. Harkness replied, “Yes, I was. I was there some everyday.”
WATCH June 24 HABCO Commission meeting
Millage rate and pay raises
There was also some disagreement about rolling back the millage rate. Palmer brought forward to the commission that rolling back the millage rate would defeat the purpose of reassessing the commercial and industrial property. He explained that rolling back the millage rate would in effect, give the money back to those properties by reducing their property tax bills.
Another point of contention was pay raises. The budget mentions both. Commissioner Palmer said he wants to give employees both. Harkness disagreed, voicing his support for cost of living increases.
“That way we know, everybody is getting a raise and, if you’re not doing a good job, then you don’t need to be here,” Harkness said. “We have good people, and they’re here, and they’re doing a good job. I don’t think we have to worry so much about the merit right now.”
Public hearing
Fewer citizens attended Monday’s public hearing than the week before. However, a few addressed the commission about their concerns over taxes and the budget.
Robert Lonergan of Cornelia was among those who spoke during Monday’s budget hearing. He told the commission that he saw that the budget was increasing employee pay by 4%, but his taxes were going up 20%.
“Why not cut spending instead of spending more,” he asked the commissioners.
Lonergan suggested not allowing personal vehicles for employees, not purchasing unnecessary equipment, and not having unnecessary personnel.
He asked, “Why did my taxes go up 20%?” Akins replied, “That’s a good question.”
Kevin Gaddis of unincorporated Demorest expressed his concerns about rising taxes and suggested the commission should do a full rollback instead of a partial rollback.
“It went up exponentially last year on taxes,” he told the commission.
Gaddis informed the commissioners that his tax assessment this year was $60,000 more than last year’s.
He said people are struggling and living paycheck to paycheck. Gaddis disagreed with Palmer about the rollback, saying that if the property increased from $100,000 last year and the value is $500,000 this year, even with a rollback, the county would collect more money.
“Everybody has to live within their means. Everybody has to budget,” he told the commission.
Gaddis went on to say the average citizen doesn’t have the means to increase their revenue stream through taxation “or fleecing the citizens.”
Gaddis expressed that they needed to go back as Harkness had suggested and go through the line items of the budget and see what could be cut.
He concluded by addressing the county manager and full commission.
“With all due respect, Ms. Vaughn, I think you’re out of line. I think that you were disrespectful to Mr. Harkness, arguing with him.” He added, “He is the commissioner. You work for him. Ultimately, you all work for us.”
Harold Tolbert asked the commission if the school board was paying for the school resource officers, including vehicle maintenance and their equipment? Akins told Tolbert that it was his understanding that the school board was paying for some of the expenses.
Tolbert told the commission that he had no issue with the new personnel. However, he asked, “Why do we need another PIO?” Akins responded, “That’s a good question.”
Recess and adjournment
After the public hearing portion of the meeting, the commission took a short recess. Once the commission came back into session, they met for approximately another 45 minutes.
Although some consensus was made on some items, there was not an overall consensus among the commission to adopt the FY 2025 budget. At that point, Akins abruptly adjourned the meeting.
