(Douglas County, GA) – At the December 14, 2021 regular meeting, the Board of Commissioners approved a budget of $104,631,524 in revenues and expenditures. There are neither increases in the millage rate nor any other fee increases.
“This is one of the best budgets we have had”, said Dr. Romona Jackson Jones, Douglas County Board of Commissioners Chairman. “When you are in better financial shape, you can think better, and this is the best – in terms of financial shape – we have been in ten years. I want to thank the Board for their commitment and their dedication.”
In addition, the FY 2022 budget reflects Douglas County’s commitment to economic discernment and workforce stability. The Board of Commissioners has secured more than 28-million dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), with 10.8-million (38%) allocated towards pay increases for the County’s almost 1,200 employees. This action is in alignment with the Board’s living-wage initiative by ensuring a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour for all current staff members.
The budget, also, allocates funding to maintain new state-of-the-art facilities such as the Boundary Waters Activity Center, the Lithia Springs Senior Center, and six mowing cycles for all major right-of-way maintenance. The budget includes core operational expenses to effectively fund County operations in all departments.
“I am pleased that the proposed budget was passed with minimal changes”, said Douglas County Administrator Sharon Subadan. “The Board was able to get some of their priorities included. I am most proud that the budget ensures additional funding for pay increases for our very dedicated staff who are so very deserving.”
Initiatives prioritized by Commissioners include $500,000 for continued transportation planning, funding to replace HVAC systems that are past their useful life expectancy throughout the County, additional staffing for the Solicitor’s Office, Tax Commissioner, and Tax Assessor as well as – however, not limited to - funding for the Transportation Improvement Program.
For more information, contact Phyllis Banks, Douglas County Public Information Officer, at 678-702-6979 or email at pbanks@douglascountyga.gov