CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — With minimal objection, the Habersham County Board of Commissioners passed its 2026-2027 budget Monday night, hearing from only a single adversarial commenter before approving the spending plan by a 4-1 vote, with the newest commissioner, Danny McLellon, casting the lone dissenting vote.
Some 20 Habersham residents and employees attended the second of two public comment sessions Monday evening, but many of them were county officials representing the departments that will operate under the newly approved budget.
The budget, at around $44 million, includes a 6.64% increase over the previous year’s spending plan but requires no tax increase. A growing county tax base, largely from new homes, will cover the additional expenditures. Outside state and federal grants will also offset part of the increase.
Finance Director Kiani Holden presented the $43,988,343 general fund budget during both public hearings. The proposal is up from the county’s amended fiscal year 2026 budget of $41.15 million.
The commissioners said they trimmed about $3.1 million from the initial requests submitted by county departments.
Budget drivers include rising personnel and public safety costs
Among the largest increases are $310,000 for the second half of a previously approved 3% salary adjustment, $232,000 in higher health insurance costs, $100,000 in increased retirement contributions, $127,800 in utilities and a $719,000 increase in Emergency 911 operations funding.
Public safety spending will rise about 10%, driven by the county’s fire services agreement with the City of Demorest, animal control services and E911 costs. Harkness said the City of Demorest is paying the county $500,000 which will offset the cost of the county taking over Demorest fire services.
The budget also includes six new firefighter/EMT positions to staff the county’s New Liberty and Fairview fire stations. Departments had requested nine full-time and one part-time position, but the budget committee recommended funding only the six fire positions.
County Commissioner Dustin Mealor had previously said rising tax revenues allowed the county to increase spending in several key areas, including employee compensation, benefits, utilities and emergency services.
Harkness reverses years of “no” votes
Commission Chairman Bruce Harkness, who presided over Monday’s meeting, noted that he was voting in favor of the budget for the first time in years.
“I think it should be illegal in this country to tax a man off his land and out of his house; this has happened for generations in this country.”
“I haven’t voted for a budget for several years,” he continued. “I will not vote (yes) if there’s a tax increase. I’m going to vote for this one because there’s no tax increase.”
McLellon said little during the commissioners’ comment period and voted against the budget without explanation. He assumed office on June 3, succeeding Jimmy Tench, who resigned.
The commissioners later unanimously approved a full rollback of the county’s tax millage rate. At a previous meeting, Harkness said adding firefighters was necessary to maintain the county’s Insurance Services Office rating.
“If we don’t keep that down, your insurance premium on your houses and property could skyrocket,” Harkness said.
One objector comes forward
The June 29 hearing was the second of two public hearings required before commissioners approved the budget ahead of the fiscal year ending Tuesday. During the public comment session, only three residents addressed the board, and only one criticized the budget.
Dale Green, a frequent speaker at board meetings and a former commission candidate, questioned what services the county is legally required to provide.
“I want to ask how much that the county does that is not required by law?… Is it a law that we have recreation?” Green asked.
County Manager Tim Sims replied that recreation is not legally required, though Commissioner Dustin Mealor noted voters approved funding for the county’s Aquatic Center through a SPLOST referendum. Seemingly frustrated despite the flat tax rate, Green added, “If you’re going to run for commissioner, it would be nice if you do your job.”
Animal concerns raised during public comment
The other two speakers focused on the county’s growing stray animal population and overcrowded animal shelter.
Janette Byron told commissioners she regularly spends her own money feeding homeless cats and also supports the county animal shelter, which is building a new facility in Cornelia that is expected to open later this year.
“I would love to see some community assistance with spay and neuter,” Byron said. “There used to be a kitten season, and now the kitten season is 365 days a year.”
She said the cost of spaying and neutering stray animals is beyond the reach of many residents.
“If the county subsidized the surgeries,” she said, “people could become long-term pet people instead of seeing animals dumped.”
Beth Sutton echoed those concerns.
“I live in a mixed-income area. I have a neighbor down the street who can’t afford to spay and neuter. She’s unfortunately been putting a lot of kittens out into the neighborhood.”
Both speakers urged commissioners to consider subsidies that could reduce long-term shelter costs by preventing unwanted litters. Harkness agreed the issue deserved discussion and said the commission would hold a future work session on possible solutions.
The issue has already been reflected in the county’s budget.
Holden previously told commissioners that animal control spending is increasing about 24%, largely because veterinary costs have risen after local providers were acquired by larger companies, forcing the county to transport animals to Athens for treatment. She said the county is exploring a partnership with the low-cost spay-and-neuter provider Leftover Pets, which operates a mobile surgical unit and could relocate operations to Habersham County.
Commissioner Kelly Woodall previously said the increase reflects higher service costs rather than expanded programs.
“You have to do that service for an animal that’s collected,” Woodall said.
Don’t miss what everyone in town is talking about.
Join 4,000+ locals and choose our free newsletter covering news, events and the stories shaping our region.
