The Habersham County Commission held the first of three public hearings on the county’s proposed 2022 budget at their June 14 called meeting. The proposed spending plan includes significant salary and benefit increases in public safety and clerk of court’s office.
The proposed budget for the 2022 fiscal year sits at $54,791,257. This is approximately a $3.3 million dollar increase from this year’s budget, with more than $1 million additional dollars added to the county’s public safety budget.
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Property taxes will make up more than half of the county’s estimated revenue in the proposed budget. The county’s proposed budget requires a 6.26% increase over the rollback millage rate. That translates into approximately $43.57 more on a $150,000 home. Still, not every homeowner will have to pay more.
“Property owners with homestead exemptions will not see an increase in property tax because the property tax freeze provides an exemption equivalent to the amount of inflationary increase in value,” explains county manager Phil Sutton.
The county commission must hold a total of three public hearings on the proposed budget before adopting it and setting a final millage rate. The two other public hearings are set for June 21 and 28.
The hearings will all be held at 6 p.m. in the jury assembly room at the Habersham County Courthouse. The meetings will be streamed live on the county website, and you can watch a recording of the called meeting there.
To review Habersham County’s proposed FY 2022 budget, click here.
