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Paulding County opens public hearing on proposed $290 million fiscal 2026 budget
Summary
County finance staff presented the proposed FY2026 budget, identifying increased revenue from sales tax and vehicle taxes and major spending growth in public safety and public works; no public speakers commented on the proposed budget at the hearing.
Paulding County finance staff opened a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, which staff described in the meeting as a roughly $290 million countywide spending plan.
Tabitha Pollard, identified in the transcript as the presenter, said property taxes account for about 30% of county revenue and that the county projects an additional $700,000 in sales-tax revenue year over year. Pollard said title ad valorem taxes on vehicles had seen slight increases and that salaries and benefits make up about 54% of general-fund expenditures.
Pollard told commissioners that public safety and public works were the departments driving the largest increases in the proposed budget; she also said departments had been asked repeatedly to reduce operating expenses and that the county staff allocated planned salary increases by department this year. Pollard said the full budget document was available for public review and that the county uses prior-year figures (2024) for inter‑county comparisons because 2025 data are not yet available.
Commissioners emphasized the importance of shopping locally to raise sales-tax revenues and noted the sheriff’s office and fire department require sustained funding because of public-safety needs. Pollard opened the hearing for public comment and the transcript records no members of the public taking the podium; the hearing was then closed. The meeting record does not show a vote to adopt the budget during this session.
