The Habersham County Board of Commissioners will hold a second public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 budget at 6 p.m. Monday, June 26, during a called meeting at the Habersham County Courthouse.
Following an overview of the proposed budget, county residents will have an opportunity to comment before the commission votes on it.
County finance director Tim Sims presented the budget to commissioners on Monday. The original budget posted on the county’s website on June 12 was short by $660,417. Disputing previous reporting by Now Habersham that the error was caused by an “Excel accounting error,” Sims says it was due to not having the tax digest in time and making the “best estimate” possible under the circumstances.
The adjusted total for the proposed FY 2024 budget is $73,723,664 million – 9.34% higher than the current year’s operating budget.
Sims says the proposed budget will not require a millage rate increase. Some property owners, however, will have higher tax bills this year because valuations have risen.
Property tax valuations came in 11.8% higher than last year, according to Sims. This year’s expected property tax revenue is $21,180,660—$2,235,387 higher than last year’s.
The total year-to-year budget increase is over $6,295,700.
In addition to the expected property tax revenue, they are pulling in $4,060,313 in capital operating transfers, fund balance, grants, and an anticipated increase in revenues.
The meeting and public hearing will be held in the courthouse jury assembly room at 295 Llewellyn Street in Clarkesville.
A copy of the proposed budget may be viewed here or on the Habersham County website.
Other items on Monday night’s agenda include a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Habersham County Board of Education for school resource officers, amending the Habersham County fee schedule, and ratification of a contract with Soque Contracting Services for renovations to the South Voting Precinct and Election Office.
