On Jan. 3, 2023, in its first major vote of the year, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved the 2023 budget of $2.27 billion.
It consists of a $1.78 billion operating budget and a $488 million capital improvements budget, which includes funds from the County’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program.
Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson said the budget addresses challenges facing the County, including hiring and retaining a qualified workforce, inflation and supply chain disruptions.
“Our vision is to ensure Gwinnett is the preferred community where everyone thrives, and this budget takes strides to support that vision while we navigate global economic uncertainty,” said Hendrickson. “With this budget, we will not only maintain, but also build upon the excellent services that our residents expect and deserve.”
Initiatives in the budget include:
• Upgrades for County roads, water and sewer lines and parks
• A language learning assistance program for employees
• Enhancements to Gwinnett’s courts’ abilities to conduct virtual proceedings
• New Environmental Sustainability Officer and Equity Officer positions
• New positions for Gwinnett’s Emergency Management team
• Staff to support the new seventh State Court judge added by House Bill 1570
“The Equity Officer position will reside in the County Administrator’s Office and will support all County departments. The role of this position will be to engage in the continued development of the County’s Equity Action Plan and build upon it by coordinating thoughtful and deliberate action toward a culture of equity and inclusion throughout the organization. At this time, only one position was added. Additional resources may be assigned to this area in the future as the Equity Action Plan continues to take shape and specific action items are identified,” says Buffy Alexzulian, Director, Department of Financial Services, Gwinnett County.
As part of the budget development process, department directors and elected officials presented business plans for 2023 to five Gwinnett residents recruited by Chairwoman Hendrickson who reviewed the departmental requests and made recommendations.
Commissioners held a public hearing on the budget Dec. 5 and accepted comments in writing and online through Dec. 31 before making their final decision.
The adopted 2023 budget resolution and supporting documents are available online at GwinnettCounty.com.
