Walker County’s state representatives said they plan to introduce local legislation in Atlanta requiring the county to conduct a forensic audit, disclose negative quarterly budgets and create budgetary action plans.
“You’ve gotta manage government for now, but you also gotta manage it for the future,” state Rep. Mike Cameron, R-Rossville, said by phone. “That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Cameron and state Rep. Steve Tarvin, R-Chickamauga, said they would introduce the local legislation during the 2027 legislative session, according to their joint press release.
Over the past several months, the county has held work sessions and public hearings to determine how it will address a $2.8 million proposed budget shortfall. Raising property taxes has been floated as a possible solution.
The Walker County Board of Commissioners will meet Thursday to adopt the budget and establish a comprehensive financial policy. Chair Angie Teems previously stated the shortfall stems from the county’s new ambulance contract, cost-of-living adjustments for county employees and state-mandated raises for the District Attorney’s Office.