Gwinnett passes budget; expect to pay more taxes

Gwinnett County passed a $1.7 billion budget Tuesday that may, for the first time in more than a decade, raise the mill levy on property.

But it did not pass without a fight.

Commission Chairman Charles Bannister and Third District Commissioner Mike Beaudreau went head-to-head over amendments to the budget, each calling for their own cost-saving measures.

Bannister’s amendment, which ultimately was passed, includes $11 million in last-minute capital deferments, a move that left Beaudreau visibly unsettled.

The chairman’s plan will delay construction of the Grayson-Bay Creek police precinct for one year and set back development at several parks in eastern Gwinnett County.

Beaudreau pointed out the majority of the deferments targeted his district, and he questioned whether the chairman’s proposal might be political payback for not going along with the original budget as proposed.

“I don’t see any other moment where we’ve had our feet to the fire so much to make a difficult decision for the right thing for all the people of Gwinnett County,” Beaudreau said. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say a few of these things that are brought up in that capital project being delayed are simply political payback. I wouldn’t say that of course but somebody watching on TV might think that, because they all happen to be right around a five-mile radius to where I live in my district.”

Beaudreau’s proposal included more than $11 million in funding cuts. His plan sought 40 percent reductions in funding to the Association of Retarded Citizens, Barrier Free, childen’s shelter, Council for Seniors, Human Services Coalition, indigent medical care and the Latin American Association. Mental health, DFACS, the library system, transit and employee compensation were also targeted for smaller cuts. He further recommended a 4.2 percent reduction in salary for elected and appointed officials.

All told, Beaudreau said, his plan would have balanced the budget without a tax increase and would have actually created a small surplus.

But Bannister said Beaudreau had been given ample time to present his proposals during the budget process. Instead, the chairman said, he had presented 14 line item cuts one hour before the vote was to be taken.

As adopted, the 2009 budget adds 134 public safety staff, nine court positions, six positions in the district attorney’s office and two posts in the parks department.

County officials cut $40 million from the original budget proposed in December, and 108 jobs have been eliminated since then. Officials estimate they will need $62 million in additional revenues — additional fees or property taxes — to fund the budget and its future public safety programs.