In the days following this week’s public hearing on the proposed FY 2026 Bulloch County budget, a claim has circulated widely across social media, emails, and community conversations suggesting that the Bulloch County Recreation and Parks Department is receiving a $1.6 million increase in funding.
After reviewing county budget documents and confirming with Chief Financial Officer Kristie King, Grice Connect can report that this claim is inaccurate.
The actual increase in the Recreation Department’s General Fund budget from FY25 to FY26 is $330,968. The majority of that increase is driven by employee-related costs, especially health insurance, not new programming or expanded services. As with other departments across the county, Recreation is absorbing its share of a sharp rise in healthcare expenses, including a 40% increase in claims.
The figure circulating publicly appears to be the result of a mistaken comparison between the proposed FY26 budget and the current year-to-date spending in FY25. That method doesn’t present a complete picture, as FY25 has not officially closed and final expenses, including invoices and personnel-related costs, will continue to be processed for roughly two months after the fiscal year ends.
Of the total $330,968 increase, $346,719 is attributed to increased costs in group health insurance. Health insurance spending is budgeted based on actual plan participation by employees in each department. That means year-to-year shifts in who is covered, what plans they select, and how many dependents are enrolled can significantly affect one department’s totals, even if the county’s overall contribution rate remains unchanged.
Salaries in the FY26 proposal also reflect a full year of merit-based raises issued mid-year in FY25, along with proposed across-the-board and merit increases for the coming fiscal year. In FY25, only half of the year reflected those merit-based increases, but FY26 includes them in full.
Importantly, when personnel costs are removed from the equation, the Recreation Department is actually reducing its non-personnel budget by $42,467. That reduction is being achieved by shifting certain small equipment and capital purchases away from the General Fund and back onto SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) funding.
This move is consistent with broader county efforts to reduce pressure on the General Fund and limit the use of taxpayer dollars where possible.
As conversations continue ahead of the June 26 final vote, Grice Connect is working with county staff to develop a simplified breakdown of each department’s budget changes from FY25 to FY26. While the interactive proposed budget tool is publicly available and offers extensive detail, we recognize that the volume of information can be overwhelming for many residents.
Our goal is to present that information clearly, directly, and with full accuracy—so that the facts are easily accessible and not misrepresented or misunderstood.
To be clear: the Recreation Department is not receiving nor has it requested a $1.6 million increase in the proposed FY26 budget. The actual change is just over $330,000, driven almost entirely by countywide healthcare cost increases and existing salary obligations—not by new spending initiatives.
The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on the final FY 2026 budget during a called meeting on Thursday, June 26 at 5:30 p.m.
