During the commission meeting on June 20, 2023, the Board of Commissioners voted to approve the $57.5M budget for FY 2023-24 that begins July 1, 2023. Some of the budget highlights that were approved include:
- Addition of six full-time paramedics at a cost of $400,000 (salary and benefits) for the new EMS/VFD station that will be operational during October 2023 located at the Northwest Harris Business Park.
- Preparation of a five-year road and bridge master plan to guide future growth at a cost of $40,000.
- Preparation of a five-year water and wastewater master plan to guide future growth at a cost of $30,000.
- Preparation of a water and wastewater rate study at a cost of $35,000.
- Acquisition of new citizen request management software (SeeClickFix) to capture citizen requests and complaints through a 24/7 online platform for more efficient responses to citizen issues at a cost of $20,000.
- Resurfacing of about 7 miles of county roads paid by a $843,000 state grant.
- Preparation of a conceptual design of an agricultural complex at a cost of $70,000.
- Further improvements to Ellerslie Park at a cost of $100,000.
- Improvements to Pine Mountain Valley Park at a cost of $250,000 upon taking ownership of the park.
- Reconfiguration of the lights on field #7 at Moultrie Park for football at a cost of $125,000.
- Implementation of wi-fi at Moultrie and Pate Parks at a cost of $25,000.
- Purchase of six replacement vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office at a cost of $420,000.
- Completion of a new fire training center behind the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department at a cost of $699,000.
- Purchase of a used fire truck for the Northwest Harris VFD to be allocated to the new EMS/VFD station located at the Northwest Harris Business Park at a cost of $200,000.
- Partnering with the River Valley Regional Commission (RVRC) to implement a Geographic Information System (GIS) and developing a digital zoning map at a cost of $65,000.
- Migration to a standard P25 911 radio system.
- Begin Phase II of historic courthouse renovations consisting of mainly internal improvements at a cost of $1,720,000.
- Construction of a new Public Works Facility at a cost of $3,500,000 located in the Hamilton Business Park.
- Purchase two replacement garbage trucks at a cost of $580,000.
- Upgrade the water line on U.S. 27 in the southern part of the county at a cost of $1,200,000.
