By a 4 to 3 vote, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners passed the 2019 fiscal year budget during their January 23 meeting.

“The budget adopted by the Board addresses many of the major issues affecting our citizens, while maintaining our fund balance and lowering the millage rate,” said Chairman Robb Pitts. “This budget also includes approximately $13.5 million for employee pay for performance bonuses and a 3% mid-year cost of living increase.”

The $1.1 billion budget, including $719 million in the General Fund, includes a number of enhancements to key Fulton County programs.

These include:

• Additional $4 million behavioral health services, including $620,000 for Grady Hospital to increase capacity at its Medication-Assisted Treatment Clinic for opioid addiction; and expansion of core behavioral health services.

• Additional $1.1 million for expansion of the Pre-Arrest Diversion Program;

• Additional $3.4 million for Senior Services, as well as $2 million for facility upgrades to senior centers.

• Additional $1.5 million for public health services, including enhanced resources for HIV/AIDS testing and treatment.

• Additional $5.7 for the Justice Reinvestment Investment, in addition to $2 million to assist the Fulton County District Attorney and Solicitor General reduce caseloads in an effort to comply with American Bar Association

• Additional $420,000 for the Juvenile Court for a Youth Crime Prevention Program

• Additional $250,000 for a feasibility study for an updated Fulton County Animal Shelter;

• $1.3 million for security improvements, including equipment and personnel, as well as $1.0 million for Continuity of Operations and $600,000 for Emergency Management personnel and operations;

• Additional $500,000 for facilities updates for the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office

• Additional $2.4 million for economic development and workforce development activities, including industry relations programs, film outreach and more

• $1.5 million for Cybersecurity updates

• $4.1 million for updated computers, software and hardware

• $3.2 million for continued updates in technology to support ongoing improvements to the property tax system.

The 2019 General Fund budget takes into consideration a projected reduction in the millage rate and a slight reallocation of resources across departments and agencies in order to provide resources to the priorities outlined by the Board.