The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners adopted a $1.82 billion budget for 2019 on January 3, 2019. Board members held a public hearing on the budget in December and accepted comments in writing and online before making their final decision.

The operating budget, excluding transfers between funds, is up about 4.8 percent. Much of the increase in the operating budget is related to increased personnel costs as the County adds necessary personnel and addresses compensation issues. The budget includes a $1.39 billion operating budget and $438 million for capital improvements, including SPLOST-funded projects.

2019 Budget At-a-Glance
Adopted 2019 budget resolution summary
Budget highlights presentation
Video: Proposed 2019 Gwinnett County Budget

Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash said the annual budget starts with base funding to maintain core county services such as police and fire protection, jail, courts, roads, transit and water. Additions for new or ongoing initiatives reflect priorities set by the Board of Commissioners last spring.

“This budget continues Gwinnett's tradition of conservative budgeting based on multi-year planning,” said Nash. “It maintains adequate reserves, uses pay-as-you-go financing for capital improvements and also sets aside money for future obligations.”

One focus for the 2019 budget is making sure that a “safe and healthy community” remains a top priority. The budget adds more police officers in the community and sheriff's deputies to staff the detention center as well as new courtrooms resulting from the expansion of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. The budget includes funding for Fire and Emergency Services positions and construction of the Georgia State Patrol Post 51. Commissioners also added about $250,000 in seed money to address the opioid crisis.

Another priority, “mobility and access,” includes expanding transit and improving and maintaining roads and the airport.

The “livability and comfort” priority funds libraries, parks senior services, trails and greenways, and park program expansion and addressing homelessness.

Funds for economic development and redevelopment, a new Water Innovation Center, reliable Infrastructure, and the 2040 Unified Plan fall under the “strong vibrant local economy” priority, while “Communication and engagement” includes the addition of education and outreach positions for the departments of Planning & Development and Community Services.

In regards to the increase in staffing, Nash noted that Gwinnett's population has grown by 22 percent since 2008 while County staff has only increased eight percent.

The tax digest, the value of all assessed property, is above its pre-recession level at $30.3 billion after hitting a low in 2013 and beginning to recover in 2014. Less than half of the total operating budget is funded with property tax revenue.

Five residents served on the budget review committee. They listened to budget requests from department directors and elected officials, studied business plans, budget needs and revenue projections, and made recommendations to Nash for the 2019 budget.

The 2019 budget and supporting documents are available online at www.gwinnettcounty.com.

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Gwinnett Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash presented her $1.8 billion proposed budget for 2019 during a briefing on Tuesday, November 27.

The proposed operating budget, excluding transfers between funds, is up about 4.6 percent. Much of the increase in the operating budget is related to increased personnel costs as the County adds necessary personnel and addresses compensation issues. The proposal includes a $1.34 billion operating budget and $434 million for capital improvements, including SPLOST-funded projects.

Commissioners accepted public comments during a public hearing held December 10 at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center  in Lawrenceville and online through December 31 before adopting a final balanced budget on January 3, 2019.

Nash said the annual budget starts with base funding to maintain core county services such as police and fire protection, jail, courts, roads, transit and water. Additions for new or ongoing initiatives reflect priorities set by the Board of Commissioners last spring.

“This proposed balanced budget continues Gwinnett's tradition of conservative budgeting based on multi-year planning,” said Nash. “This 2019 budget proposal maintains adequate reserves, uses pay-as-you-go financing for capital improvements and also sets aside money for future obligations.”

One focus for the 2019 budget is making sure that a “safe and healthy community” remains a top priority. The 2019 proposed budget adds more police officers in the community and sheriff's deputies to staff the detention center as well as the new courtrooms resulting from the expansion of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. The budget also includes adding positions for Fire and Emergency Services and funding for construction of the Georgia State Patrol Post 51.

Another priority, “mobility and access,” includes expanding transit and improving and maintaining roads and the airport. The “livability and comfort” priority funds libraries, parks senior services, trails and greenways, park program expansion and addressing homelessness. Economic development and redevelopment, a new Water Innovation Center, reliable Infrastructure, and the 2040 Unified Plan fall under the “strong vibrant local economy” priority.

“Communication and engagement” includes the addition of education and outreach positions for the departments of Planning & Development and Community Services.

In discussing the increase in staffing, Nash noted that Gwinnett's population has grown by 22 percent since 2008 while County staff has only increased eight percent.

The tax digest, the value of all assessed property, is above its pre-recession level at $30.3 billion after hitting a low in 2013 and beginning to recover in 2014. Less than half of the total operating budget is funded with property tax revenue.

Five resident volunteers served on the 2019 budget review committee that heard presentations by department directors and elected officials and studied business plans, budget needs and revenue projections before making budget recommendations to Nash. Videos and documents from that process are available online at www.tvgwinnett.com.

The entire proposed 2019 budget document is available online at www.gwinnettcounty.com and as a hard copy in the Financial Services office at GJAC, Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

County elected officials, department directors, and agency heads will present their business plans and financial resource requests for budget year 2019 starting Monday, August 27. The budget presentations, which run through Thursday, August 30, will be heard by the budget review team made up of five Gwinnett residents who were invited by Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash to help set priorities and make recommendations for the proposed budget.

Keith Roche, a Lawrenceville city councilman and retired business executive, is new to the committee this year. He joins four budget review team veterans: Alida Sims, a regional kinship navigator with the Georgia Department of Community Services Division of Family and Children Services; David Cuffie, CEO, Total Vision Consulting LLC; Norwood Davis, CFO, 12Stone Church; and Santiago Marquez, President and CEO, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Sims and Cuffie both graduated from the Gwinnett 101 Citizens Academy.

Nash values public input in making local government decisions, saying that it leads to better outcomes.

“Each team member brings a different perspective to the table, which is important as we listen to budgetary needs and plans for the future, review revenue projections and prepare the proposed budget,” said Nash. “I am thankful that each of these talented individuals agreed to serve another year.”

The business plan presentations will be available to view on demand on this website starting the afternoon of August 27.  

The Chairman’s 2019 budget proposal will be made available to the public and news media on November 27 in conjunction with its formal presentation to the district commissioners, and the budget public hearing is scheduled for December 10. By law, the Board of Commissioners must adopt the annual budget during its first meeting in January.