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FY 2022 Budget Meetings: Mayor Girtz Proposes $148M Measure

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

A series of budget meetings and public hearings is scheduled for the FY 2022 Athens-Clarke County budget. Mayor Kelly Girtz has proposed a $148 million-dollar measure, which is more than 5% higher than last year’s budget.

The mayor discussed the main concerns on Athens News Matters.

"These are all things that have not just emerged overnight. A growing set of priorities for myself and for the county commission have been housing and homelessness concerns, mental health, injustice concerns, environmental area priorities, and they've been community outreach. Among the things we'll see is a new person in the Sustainability Office to focus on our goal toward getting to 100% clean energy."

In addition, there are plans to enhance some areas where work has already begun.

"There's been a lot of conversation about our co-responder teams, where the police department works with Advantage Behavioral Health services."

That expansion includes $336,000 in funding for four additional social workers to work with police, for a total of seven units.

The first Taxpayer Bill of Rights meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 11th at 5:30 pm at City Hall. A budget review is scheduled for Thursday, May 13th at 5:30 with online public comment only. For more information, visit accgov.com/budget.

The budget does not include a tax increase.

Alexia Ridley joined WUGA as Television and Radio News Anchor and Reporter in 2013. When WUGA TV concluded operations, she became the primary Reporter for WUGA Radio. Alexia came to Athens from Macon where she served as the News Director and show host for WGXA TV. She's a career journalist and Savannah native hailing from the University of Michigan. However, Alexia considers herself an honorary UGA DAWG!
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