The Habersham County Commission will convene for a planning retreat on Thursday, February 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The all-day event will provide commissioners with an opportunity to receive updates from staff on ongoing projects, as well as engage in discussions about future initiatives that will impact the county’s growth and development.
The Georgia Regional Mountain Commission (GMRC) will facilitate the retreat and will offer commissioners a comprehensive look at the current state of county operations and future needs.
Updates on current projects
Interim Finance Manager Kiani Holden will begin the retreat by presenting an update on the county’s financial status. Topics of discussion will include the current fiscal year’s budget, the latest SPLOST 7 collections and expenses, and preparations for the upcoming budget process. Additionally, Holden will highlight the goals the commission hopes to achieve during the next budget cycle.
EMA/911 Director Lynn Smith will provide an update on ongoing SPLOST-funded projects, including the public safety radio system, the new fire/EMA/E-911 headquarters, and the animal control facility. Radio System Administrator Tom Priddy and Public Works Director Jerry Baggett will be available to answer questions during the presentation.
Future planning and renovation needs
Emergency Medical Services Director and Fire Chief Jeff Adams will outline the county’s future needs regarding fire station renovations. Many of the county’s fire stations, originally built when staffing was volunteer-based, now require significant updates as the county has transitioned to full-time staff working 24-hour shifts.
Adams will also revisit the fire consolidation study, which the commission tabled during its January meeting. So far, five of the county’s cities have passed resolutions to participate in the study, which could shape the future of fire services in Habersham County.
Landfill Director Johnny Vickers will discuss the county’s recycling efforts and the future improvements needed to enhance recycling services throughout Habersham County.
Economic outlook and development
Partnership Habersham Chairman Rope Roberts will provide an overview of the county’s future economic outlook, offering insights into strategic planning that will guide the county’s development. Interim County Manager Tim Sims will join the discussion to address commissioners’ goals and any additional requests from the board.
Additionally, Community Planning and Development Director Mike Beechum will provide an update on the ongoing Zoning and Unified Development Code project. Beechum will answer questions from commissioners about the progress made so far. He will outline the next steps for the new ordinance. The new ordinance will govern future growth and development in unincorporated areas of the county.
FLOST and SPLOST
During the retreat, Commissioners will receive a presentation on two potential funding options to help address the county’s financial needs. Both will require voter approval in the near future. Interim County Manager Tim Sims and consultant Phil Sutton will present these options to the county commission, shedding light on how they could impact local taxes and county finances.
The first option under consideration is the possibility of implementing a Flexible Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST). If approved by Habersham County voters through a referendum, FLOST would see the local sales tax rate increase from 7% to 8%.
However, the increase would not be used for general expenditures. Instead, the additional funds would be directly applied to rolling back the county’s millage rate, offering much-needed property tax relief to homestead-eligible property owners.
The second funding option that will be discussed is the implementation of SPLOST 8. While some may view SPLOST 8 as a continuation of the current SPLOST 7, it would be a distinct proposal.
The county and cities would have to agree to a new intergovernmental agreement for the tax collection distribution. Both would also submit a new list of capital projects, with each jurisdiction needing to agree on a slate of projects for consideration. This would then be placed on a referendum for voters to decide.
The Habersham County Commission Planning Retreat will take place at the Clarkesville Community House, located at 157 Mary Street in Clarkesville. A quorum of the commission is expected to attend and the board may take action on any of the topics discussed.
According to County Clerk Brandalin Carnes, the meeting will be livestreamed for the public to view and can be found at habershamga.com.
