WALKER COUNTY — The Walker County Board of Commissioners received a $40 million budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 during a special called meeting on June 27, 2026. Chairwoman Angie Teems stated, "CFO Christian Roach presented an overview of the county's financial position to the board, along with what it will take to fund county operations next fiscal year."

Teems stated, "Even after those reductions, the proposed budget includes a 7.9 percent increase in expenses over the current year and would require an additional $2.8 million in revenue to balance." Roach said the additional expenses come from a mix of staffing requests, escalating contracts and state-mandates.

The proposed budget includes a three percent cost of living adjustment for county employees totaling $1,000,000. It also allocates between $270,000 and $607,500 for four to nine new firefighters. Other items include a new ambulance service contract for $350,000, funding for transit service subsidies totaling $300,000, and Animal Shelter operations at $225,000.

State-mandated increases for the District Attorney and Public Defender total $165,000, and support for area non-profit organizations amounts to $101,500. Funding for one new School Resource Officer is also included at $62,500. Officials stated revenue collected from the county's millage rate has remained flat since 2017.

Options to address the shortfall include adjusting the Public Safety Fee or millage rate, increasing fees for subsidized operations, cost-sharing agreements with cities for 911 and animal shelter services, and raising rent on county facilities. Currently, 26 percent of property taxes paid by residents in unincorporated Walker County fund county operations, while 74 percent go to the school system.

Public hearings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on July 9, 2026, and August 6, 2026. Residents may review the budget proposal online at walkercountyga.gov.