Gwinnett County proposes reduced budget for 2026, public hearing set Dec. 2

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA- Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson this week presented her proposed $2.6 billion budget to guide County government spending for the 2026 fiscal year. The proposed budget represents a $66 million decrease from 2025’s approved $2.67 billion budget.

The proposed 2026 budget is made up of a $2.19 billion operating budget and a $409 million capital improvements budget, which includes funds from the County’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax(SPLOST) program.

To develop the proposed budget, the County took a zero-based budgeting approach, evaluating each line item in several categories to identify opportunities for cost savings.

Chairwoman Hendrickson explained that the proposed budget prioritizes the County’s ability to deliver superior service while remaining fiscally responsible.

“Just like our residents and businesses, the County has been grappling with the impact of inflation and other economic uncertainties,” said Hendrickson. “Our departments worked hard to identify areas where we can reduce spending to make up for the rising cost of goods and services, and our strong financial foundation positions us well to continue to deliver critical services at the high standard our community deserves.”

The proposed budget includes public safety initiatives such as upgrading the County’s 911 phone system to enable faster call processing and enhance emergency response.

In the proposed budget, the County will continue to invest in community resource centers, which serve as hubs to bring services closer to residents in their own neighborhoods. This includes the completion of the Community Resource Center at Grayson Highway, a first-of-its-kind facility for Gwinnett that will serve as the central hub for the County’s human services.

Along with these new initiatives, the County will continue to focus on fundamental service delivery, including keeping roadways safe with proactive repaving and maintenance as well as providing safe, clean drinking water and reliable wastewater and stormwater services.

Department directors and elected officials presented business plans for 2026 to the citizen budget review committee earlier this year as part of the budget development process. Four Gwinnett residents recruited by Chairwoman Hendrickson reviewed the departmental requests and made recommendations for the budget proposal.  

The proposed 2026 budget resolution is available online at GwinnettCounty.com and as a hard copy in the Financial Services office, which is temporarily located on the fourth floor of the Charlotte J. Nash Court Building in Lawrenceville during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Dec. 2. Residents can also offer input on the County’s website through Dec. 31. Commissioners will consider the 2026 budget at their first meeting of the new year on Jan. 6.