Gilmer County commissioners put the finishing touches on the 2024 budget just in time for a public hearing this week.
A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 20, at the Gilmer County courthouse.
Beginning with a budget meeting Nov. 8, commissioners were tasked with cutting $1.3 million in proposed expenditures.
During a Dec. 7 meeting, the commissioners were able to come in with a balanced budget and create a contingency fund of roughly $100,000 in the proposed 2024 budget.
Gilmer County’s proposed general fund budget for 2024 is $41,248,565. This is an increase from the 2023 figure of $33,933,721.
Gilmer County Chair Charlie Paris said the majority of the increase will be in salaries and insurance.
The capital budget dropped by $60,000 in proposed 2024 edition to $7,817,737.
Gilmer County Finance Officer Sandi Holden noted the commissioners balanced the budget without using any remaining American Rescue Plan funds.
Major reductions were made in the sheriffs office, jail and road department requests.
Sheriff Stacy Nicholson said he voluntarily reduced his request before even presenting it to commissioners.
Any further cuts could be harmful he said.
“I think that’s honestly stretching it,” Nicholson said.
Post Commissioner Hubert Parker said the county would have been in real trouble if the rollback millage had been used in 2024.
Post Commissioner John Marshall agreed.
“We would be in a fix sure enough had we done the rollback,” he said. “That has added $1,500,000 to revenues that we wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Parker thanked everyone for being willing to bite the bullet and reduce costs.
At a regular meeting on Dec. 14, commissioners approved extending the 2023 budget until the 2024 proposed budget is approved.