Gwinnett Adopts $1.56 Billion Budget

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday adopted a $1.56 billion budget for fiscal year 2017.

The budget is up about 5.6 percent from 2016 and includes a $1.18 billion operating budget plus another $384 million for capital improvements.

"The budget upholds Gwinnett’s history of sustainable, conservative budgeting practices while looking ahead at future implications of our decisions," said board Chairwoman Charlotte Nash. "I appreciate the citizen review team members, county staff, and elected offices for their hard work in developing this year’s budget."

Nash said primary goals for the budget were retaining employees, supporting public safety, enhancing public engagement and expanding Gwinnett County's judiciary to meet growing needs.

The operating budget of $1.18 billion is up from $1.12 billion in 2016.

It includes new positions in public safety and the court system, including staffing two new 24/7 ambulance units. Other new staffing is geared toward improving traffic management, reducing the wait for senior homemaking services and enhancing community outreach.

Raises for current staff also are included in the budget.

With the approval of the new six-year, special-purpose, local option sales tax program, an estimated $950 million is slated for county and city capital improvements in transportation, recreation, civic center expansion, public safety, libraries, and senior services.

Capital improvements funded by SPLOST programs include an $82 million expansion of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, expansions and improvements at multiple county parks, library replacements in Duluth and Norcross, and various road improvements.

Construction on the courthouse expansion is slated to begin in the middle of 2017 and should be completed in late 2019. The senior center housed in the Norcross Human Services Center will also be renovated.

The budget includes a $500,000 increase to the county library system's budget, $270,000 to add WiFi to part of the county's transit fleet and $50,000 to market the Gwinnett County airport.

Click here to view the adopted 2017 budget resolution.

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