County Administrator Dale Wagoner unveiled his proposed fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget to the Henry County Board of Supervisors during a special meeting today in the 4th floor conference room of the Administration Building.
The proposed budget amounts to approximately $208 million, which is an increase of 5.7 percent from the year prior. There are no proposed changes to tax rates this year.
“Our budget team, fueled by countless cups of coffee and late-evening spreadsheets, has crafted a budget that minimizes the burden on our citizens without compromising our core services,” Wagoner said. “It is a financial plan based on our understanding of the priorities established by the Board of Supervisors, our assessment of our delivery of essential government services, and our interpretation of the community’s ability to fund it.”
The largest expenditure in the proposed budget is for education. More than half of the county’s budget is dedicated to education and the total school budget amounts to approximately $107 million. A significant portion of this 4.2 percent increase comes from local contributions. The proposed budget calls for $21.6 million in local funds, which is an increase of nearly $2.3 million. The total local contribution is also a 10 percent increase in discretionary funds.
Two additional officer positions are included in the proposed budget for the Sheriff’s Office drug interdiction team. The total budget for the Sheriff’s Office is about $24.2 million, which is an increase of 9.5 percent from last year. A significant portion of this increase is related to the cost of medical services for individuals incarcerated at the Adult Detention Center. This expense is projected to increase by 65 percent this year.
The proposed budget also calls for additional investments into public safety. Allocations to volunteer fire and rescue are set to increase 14.1 percent. Four new positions are included for the Department of Public Safety to improve response times for emergency medical services calls.
Wagoner’s proposed budget would give all county employees a 3 percent raise on July 1. In addition, the county would reduce the cost of health insurance for employees with dependents by 10 percent.
The Board of Supervisors will hold a work session on the budget at 5 p.m. on April 4 in the 4th floor conference room of the Administration Building. A public hearing on the budget has also been scheduled for April 15 at 7 p.m., in the Summerlin Room of the Administration Building.
To view a copy of the entire proposed FY25 budget, visit https://tinyurl.com/3rjxxju8.