The Bryan County Commissioners unanimously approved last week its 2012 budget of $18.6 million that includes funds for a major road paving project and no tax increase.
During the board’s regular meeting Dec. 13 in the County Administrative Complex in South Bryan, Director of Finance John Grotheer called the 2012 spending plan a “balanced budget” that required no millage rate increase and included a 2.5 percent pay increase for county employees. The budget is based on the millage rate of 7.9.
A big project for the county in 2012 is paving Harris Trail Road, a project that carries a cost of around $1.8 million. Without that project, the county’s operating budget would be around $17.1 million, Grotheer said, which is a $225,000, or 2 percent, decrease from 2011.
“This budget does reflect the very challenging times that we’re in today, and the county and myself commend the department heads for their efforts to maintain this level of service with fewer resources,” Grotheer said.

Read more in the Dec. 21 edition of the News.