Proposed Gwinnett County Budget For 2022 Includes Capital Improvements

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson presented her proposed budget on Tuesday to guide County government spending for the 2022 fiscal year.

The proposed budget for 2022 totals $2.06 billion, up 7.8 percent from the 2021 adopted budget, according to a news release. It consists of a $1.6 billion operating budget and a $454 million capital improvements budget, which includes funds from the County’s voter-approved SPLOST program.

Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson said the proposed budget does not contemplate a millage rate increase.

“After working for several months with County staff, citizens and our board members, I am proud to present the 2022 budget,” Hendrickson said in the news release. “Building on the County’s historically fiscally conservative approach, we have a budget that is balanced, fiscally sound, and makes intentional investments in our community to address core services, health and human service needs, and ongoing recovery efforts of this pandemic.”

With more growth on the horizon, officials said the County’s services and infrastructure must keep up.

Two-thirds of the operating budget, which funds everyday expenses such as employee salaries, benefits, equipment and repairs, is dedicated to the areas of public safety and public works. New initiatives to be funded by the operating budget include the expansion of mental health response teams in the Gwinnett Police Department in partnership with View Point Health and additional training staff in the Sheriff’s Office.

The capital budget will pay for new libraries, roads and parks, according to the release.
Department directors and elected officials presented business plans for 2022 to the budget review committee earlier this year as part of the budget development process. Those presentations are available for viewing online at TVGwinnett.com. Five Gwinnett residents recruited by Chairwoman Hendrickson reviewed the departmental requests and made recommendations for the budget proposal.

The proposed 2022 budget resolution is available online at GwinnettCounty.com and as a hard copy in the Financial Services office at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Dec. 6 and residents can offer input on the County’s website through Dec. 31. Commissioners will consider the 2022 budget at their first meeting of the new year on Jan. 4.