Members of the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners voted 4-0 this week to approve a $62 million 2025 budget, up from $60.243 million budgeted for 2024.
Commissioner Robby Staten was absent. Board Chairman Jevin Jensen, who typically votes only when there is a tie, voted to approve the budget.
Funding for the sheriff’s office enforcement and support services will rise to $10.817 million from $10.1 million. The jail and court services will see their spending rise to a combined $12.712 million from $12.101 million in the 2024 budget.
Funding for the animal shelter will rise to $399,911 from $323,349. The budget will increase funding for the Whitfield County Senior Center to $601,616 from $542,832. And funding for the Dalton-Whitfield County Public Library will increase to $634,000 from $625,000.
The budget anticipates $62.071 million in revenue, up from $60.599 million. It does not anticipate a property tax rate increase.
The commissioners voted 3-0 to accept a $906,712 bid from Northwest Georgia Paving of Calhoun to rebuild four tennis courts at Edwards Park for better drainage. The courts will also get new lighting and fencing. Two of the courts will be striped for tennis, and two will be striped for six pickleball courts each. Funding for the project will come from a state grant.