Stephens Co. Commission Meets Today; FY 17 Budget on Agenda

Stephens County Commissioners are expected to vote on approving the county’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget at a meeting later today.

The county commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the second-floor courtroom of the historic Stephens County Courthouse in downtown Toccoa.

At the start of the meeting, county commissioners will hold a second public hearing on the proposed FY 2017 budget, which is to go into effect on Friday, July 1, if approved by commissioners.

That proposed budget calls for the county’s millage rate to stay the same at 13.41 mills.

Meanwhile, Stephens County employees who make $15 or less an hour are slated to receive a seven percent pay raise in the proposed budget, while county employees who make between $15 and $20 an hour are slated to get a five percent pay raise.

Stephens County employees who make more than $20 an hour will receive a two percent pay raise.

County officials said those raises are designed to help employees cover the rising cost of the premiums for the county’s health insurance.

Along with the budget public hearing, the county commission is set to also hold second public hearings on a new alcohol license for Lake Side Food Mart and on proposed amendments to the land use ordinance.

Following the public hearings, county commissioners will hold a work session to discuss agenda items while the business meeting to vote on agenda items will follow after the end of the work session.

Today’s 5:30 p.m. Stephens County Commission meeting is open to the public.