The budget process is in full swing for Henry County government and some interesting items were contained in the April 16 staff presentation to the Board of Commissioners at the first public hearing.

  County staff proposed a $161 million budget for the 2020 fiscal year that has no increase in the millage rate and no reduction in current services.

  Officials began by noting that the county continues to have above-average growth which will require additional services to maintain the level already expected by residents. Having said that, county staff presented a proposed budget for the 2020 fiscal year that is slightly below the current year’s numbers.

  Plenty of input from commissioners and staff alike is expected leading up to the next public hearing, scheduled for May 7. The final vote to adopt the budget was initially scheduled for that day, but it could change if more work is required.

  The board is supposed to adopt the budget at least one month before the new fiscal year begins July 1 and failed to meet that deadline last year, but officials scheduled the public hearings earlier on purpose to give some flexibility in the calendar.

  Some considerations in the proposed new budget include a $200,000 increase in the Superior Court judge supplement; $260,000 for installation of security cameras at various county locations; a 2-percent COLA and 1-percent longevity increase stemming from the county’s class and compensation study; $185,000 for part-time aides/marketing manager (constituents) for the commissioners; and more than $300,000 in salary savings for positions vacant one year or more. The county would absorb half the 14-percent net increase to health insurance premiums.

  Public safety accounts for 54 percent of proposed new budget expenditures, and property taxes amount to 57 percent of revenue. The financial forecast assumes a 4.75-percent increase in the property tax digest and a 2.9-percent rise in local-option sales tax revenue compared to the current fiscal year.

  The FY2019 budget adopted nearly a year ago was $161,535,766 but several amendments since then have adjusted that total to $163,947,789.

  The total budget from all revenue funds is $181,420,465 and that is a $6 million decrease from the current fiscal year.   Commissioners indicated that a budget workshop is likely to happen in the next few weeks. The next public hearing and adoption of the budget are scheduled for May 7 but the vote could come later.