The Newton County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution R052025 on May 20 transmitting the fiscal year 2024 Capital Improvement Element short-term work program (FY24 CIE STWP) to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

Development Services Director Shaina Applewhite said the county submitted the annual update to DCA earlier in the year and received DCA approval on April 17 with only minor recommendations, which staff addressed. The report lists completed projects in green and ongoing or postponed projects in white, and the transmittal preserves the county’s qualified local government status, which the director said is necessary to remain eligible for certain state funding and grants.

Applewhite summarized capital projects across departments: about $58 million in Transportation projects; a $50,000 library collections project; roughly $10 million in parks and recreation projects; animal services vehicle acquisitions already completed and a recommended play-yard addition; and about $25 million of projects listed by the sheriff’s office. Staff said the county’s impact-fee balance at the end of FY24 was about $3.4 million and that fire, animal services and the sheriff’s office will be added to next year’s report.

The board opened a public hearing (advertised though not listed on the agenda) in deference to the advertised notice and closed it with no public comment. The board then moved, seconded and unanimously approved the resolution to adopt the transmittal to DCA.