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Girtz's Budget: More for Public Safety, Transit, Inclusion

Photo: ACC Government

Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz's proposed 2020 budget includes new funding for ACC Police Department programs, a new Inclusion Office within the Mayor's office, and an expansion of fare-free riders on Athens Transit.

The budget, which commissioners will vote on early next month, totals $136.2 million, a 1.4% increase from the current budget.

Several items in Girtz's budget proposal affect the ACC Police Department, which has had a turbulent year, involving the resignation of its chief and the hiring of a new chief, as well as a number of incidents which raised questions about the department's use of force.

Among the items proposed by Girtz are a continuation and expansion of the Mental Health Co-Responder unit and an expansion of a program which allows some ACCPD officers to take their police vehicles home. The budget also proposes $54,000 for an additional Communications Officer, to improve emergency response times.

The proposed budget also creates several new governmental positions, most notably an Inclusion Office with one full time employee. The budget also adds a Housing Coordinator job, focusing on the creation of affordable housing in Athens, and the conversion of a part-time position in the Board of Elections into a full-time Elections Coordinator. In addition to the new position, the Board of Elections is also slated to receive funding for a pay hike for poll workers as well as for the creation of additional polling locations and early voting days.

Girtz's budget also addresses the topic of public transit, which was a issue in last year's local elections. Under Girtz's plan, Athens Transit would receive $94,000 from the county's General Fund to expand the number of people who can ride fare-free on Athens Transit buses. The proposed funding would provide fare-free service to senior citizens, disabled riders, and ACC government employees. UGA faculty, staff, and students currently are able to ride fare-free on Athens Transit.

On the revenue-raising side, property owners in ACC could see property tax increases, although the proposed millage rate remains at the current level. The predicted 7.62% increase in revenue comes from property reassessment, and according to budget documents from the Mayor's office, a home worth $200,000 would see a tax increase of $65.59. The Mayor's office notes that, "a homeowner of an average-priced home will continue to pay similar or lower property taxes than many neighboring and similar-sized communities in Georgia."

Two meetings on the budget have already taken place, but the public will have two more opportunities to comment on the proposal - Tuesday, May 21 at 6:00 PM , and Tuesday, June 4 at 6:00 PM. Both meetings will be held at City Hall. The Commission is expected to vote on the budget at the June 4 meeting.

The proposed budget and supporting documents can be viewed at https://www.accgov.com/budget

Martin Matheny is WUGA's Program Director and a host and producer of our local news program 'Athens News Matters.' He started at WUGA in 2012 as a part-time classical music host and still hosts WUGA's longest-running local program 'Night Music' which is heard on WUGA and GPB Classical. He lives in Normaltown with his wife, Shaye and dog, Murphy.