As residents of Gwinnett County, we often go about our daily lives, caught up in work, family, and personal routines, with little attention paid to the intricacies of our local government. Most of us don’t think twice about the budget that shapes the services we rely on, from public safety to healthcare.

But what happens when we don’t take the time to understand how our local government is planning to allocate its funds? The consequences are real, and they affect us all in ways we may not even realize.

Take it from me: even I wasn’t aware of Gwinnett County’s proposed budget until recently, when the election drew my attention to it.

It was a wake-up call that got me thinking about how many of us—myself included—are not paying close attention to what’s happening behind the scenes in our county.

Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson presented the proposed 2025 Gwinnett County budget on Tuesday, November 12.

The budget is substantial, at $2.65 billion, and it includes a $2.1 billion operating budget and a $542 million capital improvements budget. The capital improvements budget, in part, comes from the County’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) program.

This budget is aimed at tackling some of the biggest challenges Gwinnett faces, such as healthcare, affordable housing, and sustainability. The Board of Commissioners will consider the budget at their first meeting of the new year on Tuesday, January 7.

Key initiatives in the proposed budget include:

• Enhancing E911 communications to improve emergency response times.
• Introducing community services aides to support the Police department, which could have a direct impact on local safety and community engagement.
• Improvement and expansion of water and sewer services, which affects the infrastructure we all depend on.
• A focus on redevelopment and small area plan studies as part of the 2045 Unified Plan, a roadmap for Gwinnett’s growth and future.
• An emphasis on resident workforce development, which can help improve employment opportunities within our community.

What’s more, department directors and elected officials presented their business plans for 2025 to three Gwinnett residents who were recruited by Chairwoman Hendrickson. This group reviewed the departmental requests and made recommendations to guide the spending for next year. This is an important example of how community involvement can shape the decisions that ultimately impact our daily lives. You can take a look for yourself here.

But here’s the thing: how many of us are aware of these changes?

How many of us are taking the time to understand the proposed budget, the initiatives it includes, and how it will affect everything from public safety to the quality of life in our neighborhoods?

Too often, we overlook the importance of being involved in local government matters until we see the direct impact—like tax hikes or cuts to essential services.

It’s easy to ignore the budget, thinking that it’s something for government officials to deal with or that it won’t have much effect on us. But this budget directly impacts how Gwinnett County runs, what services are prioritized, and how funds are allocated for everything from healthcare programs to new community projects.

The bottom line is this: we have to stop going about our days without considering how these decisions affect us. Local government isn’t some faraway entity—it’s part of our daily lives, shaping everything from the roads we drive on to the emergency services we rely on.

Taking the time to understand the proposed budget and staying informed can help ensure we’re all getting the services and resources we deserve. And as Chairwoman Hendrickson said, it’s up to us to be active participants in the process and make our voices heard.

So, as the new year begins, let’s commit to being more involved. Let’s stay informed, ask questions, and engage with the decisions that directly affect our community. The proposed 2025 budget is just the beginning—how we respond to it will shape Gwinnett County for years to come.