The Hall County Board of Commissioners adopted a budget Thursday night for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2018, and ends June 30, 2019.
The General Fund millage rate, which is the property tax rate that supports daily operations, was adjusted down from 6.70 mills to 5.360 mills due to the establishment of three new tax service districts. The Fire Fund millage rate, which supports Fire Services, remains at 2.65 mills for unincorporated residents and 4.08 for incorporated residents.
The three new tax service districts were carved out of the General Fund in this year's budget as a result of the 2017 Service Delivery Agreement. Those new tax service districts include Emergency Services (with a millage rate set at 0.571 mills), Development Services (with a millage rate set at 1.005 mills) and Parks & Leisure (with a millage rate set at 0.364 mills). More information about the Service Delivery Agreement and the three new tax service districts can be found at www.hallcounty.org/sds.
"Hall County Government has continued to improve its financial outlook through conservative fiscal management by staff and elected officials," Hall County Administrator Jock Connell said. "Every effort has been made to maximize taxpayer dollars, and we are optimistic about the fiscal future of Hall County."
The General Fund budget is $95.99 million and includes major functions of the government, including public safety, public works, judicial, general government and libraries. In addition to the General Fund, the Fire Fund and three new service tax districts, the total county budget includes other operational and capital funds that are self-supported by user fees and other revenue sources. The total county budget for all funds is $266.27 million.
"The 2019 budget includes compensation and retirement adjustments for employees in an effort to maintain and attract quality individuals to provide a high level of service throughout the community," Hall County Financial Services Director Zach Propes said. "It also includes a FY 2019 Capital Budget and a 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to address the County's aging capital assets and to articulate a strategic plan moving forward to phase in capital replacement incrementally."
Hall County held a public hearing on the FY 19 budget on June 21 prior to budget adoption. In addition, public information meetings on the new tax service districts were held on June 19 and June 20.
The FY 2019 budget is available at www.hallcounty.org.