Dawson County unveils FY2026 budget proposal totaling $86.99 million; public hearings set

The Dawson County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 16 received a proposed FY2026 budget totaling $86,989,950 for all county funds and a balanced general fund plan that relies in part on $9.5 million in fund balance and robust sales-tax revenues.

The proposal, presented at a work session by the board chairman, would keep the county millage rate at the previously adopted 5.463 and allocates an estimated 30.64% of general-fund revenue to property taxes while relying heavily on local option sales tax and special project sales taxes to fund capital needs.

Chairman said the county aimed to prepare "a realistic revenue based budget" that preserves services while responding to increased personnel and operating costs. He said Dawson County’s mix of local option sales tax and special-purpose sales taxes allows the county to keep property taxes lower than many peers, noting, "for the citizens out there, that's unheard of." He also reminded commissioners that Georgia requires a balanced budget.

Why it matters: The proposal sets priorities for public safety, staffing and road projects while scheduling multiple public hearings before a final vote. The budget would affect staffing levels, capital projects funded by sales tax proceeds and how much of the county’s reserves will be used to balance operations.

Key figures and priorities - Total for all county funds proposed: $86,989,950 (a reduction from 2025, per the presenter). - General fund operating requests: nearly $49,000,000. - Capital requests for 2026: more than $20,000,000 (funding split largely to sales tax and impact fees rather than the general fund). - Proposed use of fund balance: $9,500,000 in the proposed budget to balance FY2026. - Property tax share of general fund revenue: 30.64%. - Local option sales tax (SPLOST) and T-SPLOST receipts budgeted to fund many capital needs: the presenter listed $13.5 million budgeted for one SPLOST tranche and $12.2 million budgeted for T-SPLOST receipts in 2026. - New personnel/salary requests (including benefits): roughly $2,900,000 and the board has added about 40 positions in the last five years.

Program and departmental highlights - The largest shares of general-fund spending are public safety (sheriff and other public safety functions) and judicial services. - Proposed position changes include a six-month funded director for the emergency operations/9-1-1 center (to align with phased equipment installation), a network administrator and an IT reclassification, and an assistant public works director funded from public works resources now available under T-SPLOST receipts. - Capital proposals include vehicle upfitting for animal control, a four-post drive-on lift for fleet maintenance and road and bridge projects funded through T-SPLOST. - Grants and other funds: the budget shows approximately $2,500,000 in grant revenue and $2,020,000 in impact fees for 2026.

Requests from the magistrate court Chief Magistrate Judge Alex Myers asked the board to consider two supplemental requests tied to recurring operating needs. He said the magistrate court was awarded $5,000 for a fixed-cost legal-research subscription for FY2025 but that the subscription cost was higher, leaving an unpaid balance. "I still have about $200 left in that account currently," Myers said, and asked the board for an additional $1,362.12 to cover the Westlaw subscription shortfall. He also projected a postage shortfall tied to rising civil case filings and larger debt-collection packets, and requested $1,242.91 to cover anticipated postage expenses for the remainder of the calendar year. Myers said court case volume had risen from roughly 935 civil cases in one prior year to 1,049 year-to-date and warned the volume drives mailing costs.

County manager and other business County Manager Joey announced a public ribbon cutting and tour for the new 9-1-1/Mercy Operations Center at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at 90 Liberty Drive, in front of Fire Station No. 2; he said the Motorola radio system installation is expected next year even though the emergency operations center portion of the building is open. He also said the county will hold a tire-amnesty day on Saturday, Nov. 8, at the public works recycling center on Burke Creek Road; residents may bring up to 10 tires.

Process and next steps The board scheduled three opportunities for public comment on the budget: a Nov. 6 work session public hearing, a Nov. 6 voting-session hearing, and a Nov. 20 voting-session hearing. The board may adopt the FY2026 budget at the Nov. 20 meeting if it chooses. The chairman told commissioners they would have line-item discussion opportunities at each public hearing.

Executive session motion At the end of the work session the board voted to enter an executive session to discuss personnel and potential litigation. Commissioner Stowers moved to enter executive session; Commissioner Turquette seconded. The board approved the motion 3-0.

What was not decided No formal vote on the FY2026 budget or the magistrate court supplemental funding requests was recorded at the Oct. 16 work session. The magistrate judge’s requests were presented for board consideration; no board action on those supplemental requests was recorded in the transcript.