CAIRO — Grady County is beginning to finalize its finances for the fiscal year. 

The Grady County Board of Commissioners adopted a tentative millage rate and budget Tuesday morning. 

The tentative millage rate 14.653 — an increase from the current 13.653 rate — and tentative budget of $13.87 million in total revenues and $13.82 million in total expenditures was unanimously approved. 

Notable expenditures include an estimated $230,000 for salaries and benefits for two new Grady County Sheriff’s Office deputies and a new vehicle for each one, approximately $147,000 toward the E911 radio system upgrade, and $97,500 vehicle purchase for emergency medical services (EMS). 

“There’s no fluff in this budget,” Grady County Administrator Carlos Tobar said. “These are capital investments in your community.” 

The increase in taxes was discussed at length, along with the reassessment of real property in Grady County of approximately an additional $32.1 million. 

Chief Appraiser Susan Bennett said the increased budget was the “driving factor” behind the millage increase, not the reassessment. 

Grady County also is not proposing a rollback rate. 

Commissioner LaFaye Copeland, who phoned in for the meeting, asked if the requests from the sheriff’s office and EMS could hold off another year. 

“People are calling, they’re texting,” Copeland said. “They’re very much concerned for this increase.” 

Commissioner T.D. David said he was in favor of granting the requests to the sheriff’s office. 

“We’re never going to get right if we keep saying, ‘next year, next year,'” he said. 

Richard Jordan, a Grady County resident, noted the millage increase and reassessment would be like a “double whammy” to taxpayers. 

Jordan also suggested getting a scaled-down ambulance and expressed his concerns with the solid waste collection site consolidation. 

EMS Director Rodney Gordon said the vehicle was requested to ensure EMS could respond to transport calls from Grady General Hospital, as the current fleet has two ambulances. Gordon said if one ambulance is out on an emergency call, the remaining vehicle cannot do a non-emergency transport.   

Dectaur-Grady 911 Director Tonya Griffin addressed increased budgetary items. Griffin noted four positions were added to the budget and currently 12 dispatchers are employed. Griffin added Decatur-Grady is short three dispatchers. 

The commissioners also approved three public hearing dates before final millage rate and budget adoption. 

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.