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Oconee County holds first public hearing on proposed FY 2026 budget; commissioners and residents raise questions on school resource officers, body cameras and a
Summary
County staff presented a proposed $45.7 million general fund budget balanced using reserves and highlighted a $2.5 million, 12-month school resource officer program. Residents asked about body-camera purchases, facial-recognition software and where budget materials would be posted.
Oconee County Board of Commissioners on a Tuesday in May held the first public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, a plan county staff described as balanced but drawing on reserved fund balance for some capital items.
Melissa, speaking for county administration and finance, told the board the proposed general fund is $45,704,250 and that the overall, multi-fund proposal is $83,700,551. "This is a balanced budget, and we are balancing this budget with fund balance usage," she said. She said property taxes and local-option sales taxes are the largest revenue sources and highlighted changes driven by House Bill 581 and by a new school resource officer (SRO) program.
Why it matters: the plan funds a full 12 months of the county's new SRO program and several law-enforcement capital purchases while relying on some one-time fund-balance uses for equipment and building improvements. The hearing also produced public questions about privacy and public access to budget materials.
Key details from the presentation
- General…
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