Newly appointed Habersham County Manager Tim Sims is stepping into his role with a full plate and a clear set of goals aimed at guiding the county through a period of growth, transition, and planning for the future.
Sims, who previously served as the county’s finance director, addressed key priorities through a recent email exchange, just days after the commission officially named him to the position.
Immediate priorities: Budget, staffing, and courthouse
Over the next 90 days, Sims said his focus will be on completing and gaining approval for the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, setting the 2025 millage rate, and filling two critical vacancies — a new Parks and Recreation Director and his own replacement as Finance Director.
He will also oversee the final steps in the courthouse demolition and the final transition of the property to the city of Clarkesville.
Next six months: SPLOST planning and economic development
Looking further ahead, Sims outlined the groundwork for Habersham’s next Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) campaign, including revenue projections and collaboration with the county’s municipalities to develop a project list.
Additionally, the county is preparing for a potential land acquisition in partnership with the Development Authority and the State Properties Commission. The land would be designated for a possible South Habersham Business Park, signaling a push for economic development.
Year long goals: Culture, communication, and community engagement
Aside from the more immediate need of hiring a Parks and Recreation Director, Sims looks forward to addressing issues within the department and possibly reorganizing the duties currently assigned to staff.
Among the broader changes Sims hopes to implement over the next year is a renewed focus on customer service across all departments.
“I plan on implementing an internal campaign that emphasizes “going beyond” in providing our citizens excellent customer service,” he said.
Sims also expressed interest in launching a Citizens Academy, a program that would give 25–30 residents a behind-the-scenes look at county operations in order to foster transparency and civic involvement. “I have seen this be successful and hope to bring that to Habersham County,” he said.
As growth continues to reshape the region, Sims emphasized the importance of preserving the county’s historic character while navigating development responsibly.
Workforce recruitment and retention
With staffing a continuing challenge for local governments, Sims stressed the need to both retain experienced employees and attract qualified candidates.
“We hope to look into enhancing our compensation and benefits packages to make sure that we remain competitive with our neighboring counties as possible,” Sims said. “Work toward letting employees know they are valued, respected, and appreciated.”
He said that the county is looking into promoting teambuilding, career progression options and mentoring employees to grow in the organization.
As far as recruiting new employees, “We will continue to find areas to post our positions online in areas where we can pull qualified candidates from,” Sims said. He wants to promote a compelling work environment and offer competitive salary and benefits packages.
City relations and public trust
Sims also aims to strengthen relationships with Habersham’s municipalities through frequent communication and continued quarterly HC3 (Habersham County Community, Collaboration, and Communication) meetings.
When it comes to handling controversial issues, Sims said transparency and proactive communication with the public and media are essential.
“Communication is key,” he said. With so much negativity on social media, Sims hopes to deliver a positive message to citizens. “We will try to do our best to promote transparency and communicate as much information as possible to help citizens understand issues and situations,” he said.
While acknowledging past tensions and lingering skepticism from some citizens, Sims pledged to move forward with integrity and a commitment to public service.
“I promise to work for the county’s citizens and promote the best possible solutions to carry Habersham into the future while being fiscally responsible,” Sims said.
