The proposed budget for 2023 totals $2.26 billion. It consists of a $1.77 billion operating budget and a $488 million capital improvements budget, which includes funds from the County’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program. Voters last week opted to extend the County’s one-cent SPLOST program for another six years beginning in April.
Chairwoman Hendrickson said the proposed budget addresses challenges facing the County, including hiring and retaining a qualified workforce, inflation and supply chain disruptions.
“While the County is not immune to global economic uncertainty, we have taken steps in the creation of this budget to ensure that Gwinnett’s financial foundation remains strong,” said Hendrickson. “With this budget, we will be able to maintain the excellent services that our residents have come to expect and build on them with initiatives that support safety, mobility, environmental sustainability and more.”
Initiatives included in the proposal will implement a language learning assistance program for employees, enhance the courts’ abilities to conduct virtual proceedings and add new Environmental Sustainability Officer and Equity Officer positions.
Under the proposed budget, the County’s Emergency Management team will gain new positions to better prepare Gwinnett for critical incidents and natural disasters, and several departments will gain staff to support the new seventh State Court judge added by House Bill 1570 earlier this year.
With more growth on the horizon, the County’s infrastructure must keep up. The budget also includes upgrades for County roads, water and sewer lines and parks to meet the County’s current and future needs.
Department directors and elected officials presented business plans for 2023 to the budget review committee earlier this year as part of the budget development process. Those presentations are available for viewing online at TVGwinnett.com. Five Gwinnett residents recruited by Chairwoman Hendrickson reviewed the departmental requests and made recommendations for the budget proposal.
The proposed 2023 budget resolution is available online at GwinnettCounty.com and as a hard copy in the Financial Services office at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Dec. 5 and residents can offer input on the County’s website through Dec. 31. Commissioners will consider the 2023 budget at their first meeting of the new year on Jan. 3.
