Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Taxes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gordon County presents proposed FY2026 budget with millage increase to cover health costs and 5% COLA
Summary
County finance staff presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget that raises the millage rate modestly to finance a 5% cost-of-living adjustment for staff and cover a projected 9% health-insurance cost increase; the general fund is balanced without using fund balance and capital outlay is limited to SPLOST-funded projects.
Gordon County officials presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, including a recommended increase in the property tax millage and staffing adjustments intended to keep pace with rising costs.
Andrea Bramlett, Finance Director, told the board the recommended millage rate would increase from an estimated 9.042 to 9.495, an increase the county estimates would raise property taxes by about $39 annually for a $225,000 homestead property. The millage increase would fund a 5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for county employees and cover an estimated 9% rise in health-insurance costs, which Bramlett said amounts to roughly $875,000–$1,000,000 countywide.
Bramlett said the proposed general fund budget is balanced without using fund balance and that this year’s capital outlay requests were limited to projects funded by the 2018 SPLOST. She said SPLOST and LOST receipts remain primary revenue drivers for capital and operational needs and noted an expected recognition of approximately $6 million in ARPA funds as the county completes broadband expansion payments.
The presentation included department-level breakdowns: public safety (sheriff, EMA, coroner, animal control) is the largest general-fund expenditure at about 38%; general government functions accounted for about 28.7%; highways and streets about 14%; and judicial costs about 10%. Bramlett said a single administrative position was included in the budget and vehicle/capital outlays were funded through SPLOST rather than the general fund.
The board scheduled a public hearing on the proposed budget for June 3, with adoption and any final changes planned for the June 17 meeting.
