With the 2009-2010 fiscal year budget set, members of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners are preparing to move forward with a number of projects over the next 12 months. Some of the projects will have a countywide impact while others are aimed at helping individual communities.

Commission Chairman Bill Chappell said his top priority is to ensure Carroll County remains on solid financial footing. Should the national economy bounce back from the recession, he is hopeful the county will be in a position to roll back the millage rate, possibly decreasing the amount of taxes property owners pay.

Commissioner Trent North said he is hopeful the county will continue to see solid revenue production, ensuring that no new taxes will have to be implemented.

“From a financial perspective, I’m hoping revenues increase or at least maintain what we’re anticipating from a budgetary perspective,” North said. “As a board, I don’t think you raise taxes during a recession, and I think we’ve done our first part by not raising taxes. We’re hoping to at least maintain the spending dollars that we had last year. Now it’s up for the system to start fixing itself.”

Chappell, North and Commissioner Vicki Anderson said a top priority is to see that work on the justice center begins successfully. The city of Carrollton is in the process of constructing a five-level parking deck to accompany the center, and once the deck is complete, work on the center itself will begin.

“I’m excited about breaking ground on the courthouse,” North said. “I’m ready to see that come out of the ground.”

Anderson agreed, saying the courthouse is the prime building project on the county’s plate in the next several years.

Other commissioners are focused on projects taking place in their districts.

Commissioner Kevin Jackson said he is hopeful work will finally be completed at Lake Seaton. While the public has access to the lake already, the county is in the process of adding a pavilion and a boat ramp among other things.

“We still lack a little bit of work on the reservoir. We’re nearly complete though, and I’m happy with the progress thus far,” Jackson said.

Commissioner George Chambers said he would like for the county to work out an agreement with the city of Bowdon to possibly build a new track. Chambers’ district includes Bowdon.

Chambers said there’s been some talk of putting the track on the campus of Jonesville Middle School, as there is a plot of land on site there that has already been grated. Because of this, selection of such a site could save the county tremendously on early construction costs.

The board is concerned about ensuring recreational projects receive due attention over the next 12 months. Considering how many people on a regular basis use the county gym in the recreation complex off Newnan Road, Commissioner John Wilson said he looks forward to the ground breaking on a new gym and indoor track on the property.

“Anytime we can keep kids out here and off the streets, I think it’s money well spent. I think a new gym will do just that,” Wilson said.

Chappell said his interest in the area of recreation lies foremost with the development of passive parks across the county, including Blackjack Mountain and McIntosh Reserve, among others. Not only will the development of such parks be beneficial to area residents, Chappell said, but it will also attract new businesses interested in ensuring their employees have a high quality of life.

“Everything that local government and local business does to contribute to the quality of life will contribute to bringing decent jobs here,” he said. “The jobs will go where business owners find the right conditions, and we want that to be here in Carroll County.”