The Henry County Board of Commissioners approved the county’s FY 2021 budget for the second time at its June 16 regular meeting, the first time the board was in its regular location since before the COVID-19 shutdown.
The $167,943,424 budget had been previously voted on at the commissioners’ May 19 meeting, which was a videoconference, but technical difficulties at that meeting led officials to conclude that adequate attention was not given to public comment and the public hearing that day “lacked appropriate citizen engagement,” according to a statement.
County attorney Patrick Jaugstetter announced at the June 16 meeting that it would be the third public hearing on the budget, allowing one more opportunity for citizen input.
Previous budget presentations by county management staff highlighted the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the county, but it was also pointed out that the new budget would not require a millage increase or the use of fund balance.
According to current expenditures, public safety accounts for 52.82 percent of the budget, with general government accounts adding up to 13.09 percent and judicial services at 11.14 percent.
New expenditures for the coming fiscal year are expected to include necessary courthouse maintenance, funding of the defined benefits plan, funding a premium increase to employee health insurance and funding the Transportation, Parks and Recreation and Transit Comprehensive Plans.
The budget can be viewed in its entirety on the county website, henrycounty-ga.org.
In other business, the board approved two resolutions regarding services for senior citizens. One is a contract with the Georgia Department of Human Services CSBG program that helps low-income seniors, and the other is a subgrant contract with the Atlanta Regional Commission to provide community-based services.
A resolution was approved accepting a $115,170 CARES Act Provider Relief Fund Allocation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Also approved was acceptance of a $15,975 grant to purchase trauma equipment, supplies, and funding for EMS-related training for the Henry County Fire Department. Another HCFD item was the approval of a bid award for the purchase of firefighter daily wear.
The board approved an abatement/removal of public nuisance action for property at 403 Rosser Road in McDonough, as well as a request for two new lights in an existing streetlight district in the Oakland Station subdivision on Highway 81 West.
Other actions taken by the commissioners include approval of a memorandum of understanding with the University of Georgia Board of Regents regarding cooperative extension services and personnel; acceptance of a Federal Transit Administration CARES Act grant; adoption of the Green Communities Certification Program; extension of a GO! Transit capital program agreement for a park-and-ride facility; a bid award for overhead and ADA door maintenance as an annual contract; and approval of Regions Bank to serve as sales tax custodian for SPLOST V.
