The Habersham County Commissioners voted at their called meeting to approve the county’s $54.7 million dollar budget for the 2022 fiscal year. The commission also voted to increase Habersham property taxes.
Final budget hearing and vote
The called meeting was scheduled for 6 p.m. for the third and final public hearing on the county’s proposed millage rate and FY 2022 budget. Members of the community, including Demorest Mayor Rick Austin, came to speak regarding the budget and property tax increase. Austin asked the commission to find ways to hit rollback rates for property taxes, expressing concerns for Habersham citizens on fixed incomes.
The commission voted unanimously to pass the FY 2022 budget. The commission passed the property tax increase in a 3-1 vote with Vice Chairman Bruce Harkness in opposition.
The county’s proposed budget includes a total increase of $3.3 million from the 2021 budget with major increases to the general government and public safety funds, which increased property values would help cover.
READ MORE: Budget hikes and cuts
Property values have increased county-wide, reflecting economic recovery from the 2010 market crash. The county’s property tax increase has been expressed as a millage increase of 0.688 mils due to state law. However, the Habersham millage rate will remain the same at 10.994. With this increase, some property owners will see higher taxes.
Commission clerk and interim county manager
The commission considered the appointments for the positions of commission clerk and interim county manager at the 6 p.m. meeting. This meeting followed their 3:30 p.m. called executive session to discuss potential candidates. The commission chose to remove the appointment of an interim county manager from the agenda at the beginning of the 6 p.m. meeting.
Commissioner Bruce Palmer made the motion to offer the commission clerk position to Lisa Ritchie, who currently serves as the commission clerk for Hall County. She previously served as Habersham Commission Clerk and began working for Hall County in 2014. The vote passed 3-1 with Commissioner Jimmy Tench in opposition.
Former County Clerk Lindsay Underwood and County Manager Phil Sutton resigned their positions in May of this year. Sutton’s resignation will be effective July 16.
Recordings of both meetings are available on the county’s website.
