SC FY2025 Budget: Final Public Hearing Scheduled Tomorrow
The final public hearing and reading of the Stephens County Fiscal Year 2025 budget will be held tomorrow, June 25, at 6 p.m. The Stephens County Board of Commissioners are expected to vote on adoption of the budget at the regular meeting, immediately following.
The public hearing and meeting will take place at the Historic Courthouse, 37 West Tugalo Street in Toccoa.
The proposed $40,333,276 FY2025 budget would be an approximate 5 percent decrease from the current fiscal year’s adopted budget of $42,527,570. Projected fund balances for the end of FY2024 show that the county stands to finish the fiscal year $1,281,051, or 3 percent under the adopted $42.5 million budget. WNEG News spoke with County Administrator Christian Hamilton about the proposed budget and the 5.11 percent decrease in spending.
Hamilton detailed the specific expenditures approved for SPLOST revenue, as specified in the SPLOST referendums voted on by citizens.
He added that there is a need for a new SPLOST, and talked about the advantages of SPLOST dollars for local residents.
He added that SPLOST revenues are increasing.
Hamilton talked about the tentative millage rate.
He said the change in the format of the tax bills this year should help citizens understand in more detail where their tax dollars are going.
He explained how the county digest impacts the millage rate.
Closing out the interview, Hamilton said that public comment is welcome and encouraged at tomorrow night’s public hearing and meeting.
Also on the agenda for the meeting are six land use public hearings and Board action on those conditional use and variance requests from citizens. Details on each request are as follows:
Variance Request for a parcel in the 300 block of Old Cannon Road, Toccoa. Property is currently zoned as agricultural residential. The proposed action to be taken is to grant a variance to place an accessory structure within the front yard.
Conditional Use Request for a parcel in the 1400 block of Oak Valley Road, Toccoa. Property is currently zoned as agricultural intensive. The proposed action to be taken is to grant a conditional use permit for a stack house on the property. Also a Variance Request on the property to grant a variance of 50 ft. to the right side yard setback for a total of 150 ft. setback.
Variance Request on a parcel in the 1400 block of Ridgeland Road, Eastanollee. Property is currently zoned as commercial general. The proposed action to be taken is to grant a variance of 25 ft. to the left and right side yard setback for a total of 0 ft. setback.
Variance Request for a parcel located in the 2200 block of Mize Road, Toccoa. Property is currently zoned as commercial general. The proposed action to be taken is to grant a lot size variance less than 1.5 acres for 0.78 acres.
Conditional Use Request for a parcel in the 100 block of Mize Road, Toccoa. Property is currently zoned as commercial industrial. The proposed action to be taken is to grant a conditional use permit to utilize the property as an events venue.
Members of the public are invited to attend the meeting, and are welcome to address commissioners during the Public Comment section of the meeting. Contact information for commissioners is available attached to this story on wnegradio.com.
For more information, contact county clerk Samantha Turner at (706) 898-5750.
Chair Tara Simmons, Post 1
(706) 244-5670
Commissioner Debbie Whitlock, Post 2
(706) 599-3419
Commissioner Dennis Bell, Post 3
(706) 391-0447
Vice Chair Chris Rickman, Post 4
(706) 244-5125
Commissioner Chuck Wright, Post 5
(706) 886-9491