The proposed 2023 fiscal year budget for Henry County government was unanimously approved by the Board of Commissioners at its May 17 regular meeting, immediately following the second required public hearing on the matter.
The $216.9 million budget is a $27.3 million increase over the previous fiscal year, which ends June 30. The main reason for the hike is an estimated 13.38 percent rise in the county’s tax digest, county financial services director David Smith told the board.
Smith added that the new budget is based on the county’s current millage rate of 12.733, although the new millage rate will not be up for a vote for several weeks. He noted that the final budget was the product of several months of work across all county departments as well as input from the public.
More than half of the budget — 53.1 percent, or $115.2 million — is earmarked for public safety. Funding was included for 10 new police officers and 10 new firefighter/paramedics as well as additional personnel for the county’s judicial buildings.
Another department seeing increased funding for the coming year is library services. Officials said the allocation for the 2023 fiscal year will allow all five branches to restore Saturday hours for the first time since 2010. A certified outreach librarian is also being added to help take library services into underserved communities.
A budget aspect that affects all county departments is that of compensation for employees. Just a few months after the commissioners approved significant pay increases across the board to keep salaries competitive with surrounding counties, the new budget will give county employees a two-percent raise for the coming year and maintain employee benefits without passing any additional costs to the employees themselves.
There are four sectors which make up the county budget. The general fund accounts for daily operations and is primarily funded by local property tax and sales tax revenue. Other funds include the capital projects fund, debt service fund and a special revenue fund for awards and grants.
The new fiscal year begins July 1.
