Long County chairman says new jail drives $1.8M increase in proposed 2024–25 budget; millage rate unchanged

Chairman Robert D. Parker told residents at a June 25 public hearing that the proposed FY2024–25 Long County budget includes roughly a $1.8 million increase, driven primarily by costs associated with the new Long County Jail. “The proposed budget does not include an increase in the millage rate,” Parker said.

The hearing served as the board’s formal presentation of the proposed budget and a chance for the public to ask questions. Parker said the county will begin uploading proposed budgets to its website starting next fiscal year; amended budgets, when available, will be provided through open records requests.

Residents asked for additional detail. Mrs. Teresa Johnson requested that the county make the proposed and amended budgets available online and asked whether the Board of Education school resource officer/crossing guard line item had been removed from the sheriff’s budget; Parker said that the SRO line had been allocated to the county’s “Charges for Services” revenue category. Mr. David Richardson asked whether the $1.8 million increase reflected jail costs and whether Fire and EMS service fees would be collected by the tax office; Parker confirmed the increase was due to jail costs and said the Tax Commissioner’s office would collect Fire and EMS fees.

The hearing ended after a unanimous motion to adjourn. The minutes record the Board’s adoption on July 2, 2024.