The Henry County Board of Commissioners convened a special called meeting May 24 and voted to approve a $161,535,766 budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Appropriations in this year’s budget consist of increased premiums to the county’s health insurance, salaries for the Bear Creek Recreation and Senior Center in Hampton and Locust Grove Event Center, new positions for the Technology Services Department to manage a new software system, a finance grant writer position and additional School Resource Officers for the Sheriff’s office. Expenditures also include the second phase of the public safety reset increasing public safety salaries and certification increases, as well as funding the pension and an employee clinic.

The increases will take effect at the start of the new fiscal year.