Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE -- While Gwinnett's tax rate has been decided, officials will hear from residents Thursday on how the money should be spent.

Officials expect to bring in about $59 million in additional revenues from a 2.28 mill tax increase approved last week. The money has been slated to open three fire stations, hire 58 police officers, keep courts funding stable and allow improvements to local parks. But that spending plan must still be approved by commissioners.

A hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, and the budget is set to come up for a vote Jan. 5.

"This can only be done as a result of the budget adoption," Chief Financial Officer Aaron Bovos explained last week.

Bovos said the only program modifications in the proposed $1.323 billion budget are those that were discussed as part of the tax increase.

The 2010 proposal is $387 million less than the $1.71 billion budget commissioners adopted last March. In the summer, after additional cuts, the 2009 budget was set at $1.56 billion.

"This proposed budget continues to be fiscally responsible, very conservative, and reflective of the dramatic cuts in departmental budgets that occurred in 2009," Chairman Charles Bannister said in a press release. "It also anticipates significant drops in Gwinnett property values while balancing the need for service with the economic struggles of our residents."

The complete budget document is available online at www.gwinnettcounty.com.