Comments on Proposed 2013 Budget
We'd like to hear from you! Gwinnett County Board Chairman Charlotte Nash presented her proposed 2013 budget to commissioners on November 27, 2012. In addition to soliciting the board members' input, the proposed budget resolution is available for public review and comment through midnight on December 31, 2012.
Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed budget on December 10, 2012, and will consider the budget for adoption during the first meeting of the year on January 3, 2012.
Six Gwinnett County residents and business people helped craft the proposed budget by serving on the Chairman’s budget review committee. After hearing presentations from elected officials and department directors, the group studied departmental business plans and revenue projects to make recommendations for the budget. The proposed budget preserves core services, maintains necessary reserves, and addresses the impact of some legislated changes. It also adjusts for the loss of revenues resulting from a further drop in property values, changes mandated by the consent order that ended the Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) litigation between the County and its cities, and the creation of the new city of Peachtree Corners.
A major challenge for the 2013 budget preparation was the implementation of special service districts, as required by the SDS consent order. Three new service districts for fire, police, and development provide services and collect revenues only within certain geographic areas of the County rather than countywide. For example, the police service district includes unincorporated Gwinnett and the cities that do not have their own police departments. A fourth district, funded through a contract with the County, will provide emergency medical services to residents of incorporated Loganville who live in Gwinnett.
The budget provides funding to handle the implementation of state legislation, including tax reform and judicial reform, but very little else in the way of improvements could be funded. Pay raises for County employees are not included in the budget for the fourth consecutive year, and the County will continue a policy of holding vacant positions unfilled for at least 90 days.
View the video about the proposed 2013 budget, the budget resolution summary and a budget highlights presentation.
If you would like to comment on the proposed 2013 budget resolution, please fill out the form below and click "submit". The Board of Commissioners and the Gwinnett Department of Financial Services will receive all comments. The comment period closes at midnight on December 31, 2012.
Give us your feedback on the Chairman's Proposed 2013 Budget: