County unveils proposed $60 million budget

The Troup County Board of Commissioners discussed the proposed FY2025 budget during its combined work session and regular meeting Tuesday evening.

The budget weighs in at $60,757,918, a roughly 11.7% increase over the amended budget for FY 2024.

Troup County CFO Sonya Conroy attributed the main source of the increase to personnel which is about $5 million over last year,

Last year the commissioners voted to give significant raises to all certified public safety personnel. Certified deputies, including deputy marshals, firefighters and 911 personnel received $6,000 raises and jail personnel received $4,500 raises. Other personnel received 4.5% pay raises.

“That ended up being a roughly $2 million increase so that effectively shows this year,” Conroy said.

Conroy said the new budget includes another 5 percent pay raise for county employees, which amounts to another roughly $700,000.

A significant increase in medical premiums for employees also caused personnel costs to skyrocket.

“Our renewal is going to be a 19% increase for our employee medical. That is overwhelming dollars and so you see how we get to the roughly $5 million increase in personnel services,” Conroy explained.

The biggest portion of the proposed budget, nearly half, will be allocated to public safety at 47.56%. Judicial services make up the second biggest slice of the pie at 13.75% followed closely by general government at 13.68%. Recreation makes up 9.33% of the budget followed by public works at 8.65%. Housing & Development (2.24% ), Other Financing/Uses (4.08%), and Health & Welfare (0.71%) make up the remainder.

The primary source of revenue for the county’s budget comes from taxes at 82.63% of total revenue. Charges for Services (6.8%) and Fines & Forfeitures (3.39%) also provide a significant portion of the annual revenue.

A public hearing was held for the proposed budget but no one spoke on the matter. Another public hearing is scheduled during called Board of Commissioners meeting on June 25 at 5 p.m. when the county is expected to finalize the budget.

County Manager Eric Mosely said he does not expect the need to raise the millage rate to pay for the increases in the upcoming budget. Several commissioners also voiced that they have no intention to increase the millage rate.

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