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The Troup County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved the FY 2023 budget with a notable $1.8 million increase in expenses due to operational increases.

The county will work with a $49.8 million budget in 2023. This budget includes the recently announced millage rate decrease of approximately $2 million. Other revenue changes include increases in sales tax, online sales revenues and additional income from fees in community development. The budget additionally reflects a decrease in judicial fines and fees, which has been incorporated into the budget. Another $20.7 million of the budget is from SPLOST V, which funds capital projects.

Rising fuel costs are one of the biggest hits to the budget. Last month, County Manager Eric Mosley predicted citizens could pay as much as $4.65 a gallon by August. County operations will be affected by this and departments are expected to watch fuel spending.

“We made the assumption based on projections to include a 15% increase for the cost of fuel,” Mosley said.

Another increased expense mirrored in the budget is inmate medical expenses, which cost the county $1.4 million in 2022, Mosley said.

The budget additionally reflects the approximately $2.6 million pay study the county agreed to partially fund in January, as well as a pay increase for county employees due to a 2.5% cost in living expenses and a salary increase for part-time county employees. The budget additionally includes funds for six new county positions, including an accountant, a full-time position in the elections department and four new deputies in the sheriff’s office. Nearly half — 46.32% — is appropriated for public safety, according to county documents.

A copy of the county budget can be viewed on the county’s website under meetings.