Water rates and sales tax to increase in Houston County. What to know about the FY2027 budget

PERRY — Rising costs, more growth over the past year and upcoming building projects could be factors of Houston County’s budget increase. 

The county’s budget priorities have stayed consistent in previous years. Their goals are budgeting conservatively, fully funding the merit system and planning the use of General Fund reserves. 

Chairman Dan Perdue said at the most recent County Commissioners meeting that the significant increase in the water fund is related to the budgeting of capital expenses. The water and revenue fund went up a staggering 109% to $25.7 million, the largest increase of anything in the FY27 budget.  

The fund includes a $13.6 million expansion in Houston County’s water system, largely due to the future water treatment plant located on Highway 127. County water rates will also increase by 25 cents starting in July. 

At the commissioner’s meeting, Perdue also touched on the Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST), which was just approved by voters last month. FLOST will bump up the sales tax by one percent in Houston County to 8%, offsetting property taxes, in general. He said the FLOST will not impact everyday citizens’ tax bills this year because they would have to be collecting the new sales tax for at least six months. Houston County anticipates the FLOST will be on citizens’ tax bills starting in 2027. 

“The [millage rate] reduction is in both county and city taxes, so if you pay city taxes, you’ll see a reduction in millage rate for the FLOST in your city taxes,” he said. 

The budget also showed increases to almost all departments, and increased by 13% overall, totaling over $168 million, with more expenses than revenue.

Perdue said local governments are best built by putting a majority of their resources into public safety and infrastructure. 

The fire district fund increased 22% from last fiscal year. One factor could be the fire millage rate increasing last year. Perdue said the rate increase allowed all fire stations to be staffed constantly.  

“I think when people see that line on their tax bill and know where those dollars are going, they believe it is a wise investment,” he said at the meeting. 

With the Houston County budget increasing, the number of employees has gone up as well. 

The county employs 938 full and part-time staff, 20 more than last fiscal year. Over 50% of employees are in public safety, with public works and judicial employees combining for over 30%. General government employees make up 14.5%. The total personnel budget is over $80 million. 

Houston County plans on adopting the budget at its next public meeting on June 16 in Warner Robins. 

The full agenda of the June 2 meeting can be found at www.houstoncountyga.gov/minutes/2026-06-02%20Department%20Head%20Copy.pdf