Gwinnett County adopted its 2009 budget on March 3. This replaces an interim budget commissioners approved in January. At $951.2 million, the operating budget is 3.5 percent higher than Chairman Bannister's original budget of $919.2 million. The interim budget, which the County has been operating under as the final budget was being developed, was $890.5 million. With capital improvements now set at $759.4 million, the total budget comes to $1.71 billion.
"This budget maintains our emphasis on public safety and efficient operations while providing long-term financial stability," County Administrator Jock Connell said. The final plan adds 188 new jobs over 2008 numbers, mostly in police and fire. It also cuts 90 other positions, netting 98 added positions. The Board held a public hearing on the proposed budget on February 23.
In January of this year, the Board wanted to finish its service-value-responsibility (SVR) efficiency study and see how federal recovery spending might affect the County. That study resulted in almost $40 million worth of initiatives – including cost reductions and revenue enhancements – that are incorporated in the new budget. Nearly 100 adjustments include everything from not replacing vehicles to reducing pool hours to dropping the annual Gwinnett Glows July 4 celebration. The new budget also calls for increases in business occupation tax, ambulance service fees and planning and development fees.
"I'm pleased that we were able to provide funding for new police and firefighters," Board Chairman Bannister said, "although we're reducing funds for many of the human services agencies we help support." The additional fire resources are a step toward the County's goal of reducing response time from 7.5 minutes to five minutes to help lower insurance premiums for property owners.
To obtain more information about the budget, the 2009 budget resolution, a list of amended capital items, and a 2009 budget summary are available here as links. You may also be interested in viewing a list of SVR adjustments that resulted from the County's comprehensive review of core services and a list of other items that were added to the budget.
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