(Lawrenceville, Ga., Dec. 2, 2009) - The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2010 budget on Thursday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center auditorium, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. The public is invited to make either oral or written comments on the budget at the hearing.? The Board of Commissioners is expected to make its final determination on the fiscal year 2010 budget during its regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 5, 2010.

The 2010 budget proposal outlines a countywide budget of $1.323 billion, down $387 million from the $1.71 billion budget adopted last March for fiscal year 2009.? The five-year capital budget calls for $1.2 billion for capital improvements over the years 2011 through 2015.

Commission Chairman Charles Bannister said, "This proposed budget continues to be fiscally responsible, very conservative, and reflective of the dramatic cuts in departmental budgets that occurred in 2009.?It also anticipates significant drops in Gwinnett property values while balancing the need for service with the economic struggles of our residents." The budget is based on the same millage rate of 13.25 mills that the Board adopted for 2009.

The complete budget document is available for public access at the Department of Financial Services, also at 75 Langley Drive, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and is available online at www.gwinnettcounty.com.