The Habersham County Commission approved an updated intergovernmental agreement (IGA) to include Banks County as part of the Mountain Judicial Circuit during Monday’s commission meeting.
Banks County will join the Mountain Judicial Circuit next year. Effective January 1, 2025, the circuit will be made up of Habersham, Rabun, Stephens, and Banks counties.
The IGA spells out how much each county will contribute to the expenses for the circuit to operate. Finance Manager Tim SIms told the commission that the addition of Banks County to the circuit will save Habersham County more than $92,000.
The expenses will be split based on the total census population of each county. Population numbers will be updated every five years. It will affect Superior Court, the District Attorney, Public Defender, and the Juvenile Court.
The cost of operating the Mountain Judicial Circuit for fiscal year 2025 is budgeted for $1,579,034. The amount will be split with Habersham paying $675,827, Stephens paying $380,547, Banks paying $276,331, and Rabun paying $246,329.
