CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — Habersham County officials delivered a wide-ranging update on community projects, financial health, and 2026 priorities Wednesday morning during the annual State of the County Address, co-hosted by Partnership Habersham and the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce.
The breakfast event drew an estimated 150–200 attendees to North Georgia Technical College, according to County Manager Tim Sims. The program featured remarks from Sims and Commission Vice-Chair Bruce Harkness, followed by updates from municipal leaders representing cities across the county.
A recorded video of the full presentation is available for viewing here:
🔗 Watch the full State of the County Address
https://boxcast.tv/view-embed/dcj8qnxnnonndniok58o?showTitle=1&showDescription=1&showHighlights=1&showRelated=1&defaultVideo=next&playInline=0&dvr=1&market=government&showCountdown=0&showDonations=0&showDocuments=1&showIndex=1&showChat=1&hidePreBroadcastTextOverlay=0&layout=playlist-to-right#
“Habersham’s strength is its people”
Commission Vice-Chair Bruce Harkness opened the program with a reminder that the county’s identity isn’t measured in acreage or tax digests, but in its residents.
“You people here are the heart and soul of our county,” Harkness said.
“Everywhere I go, people tell me Habersham has good, genuine people. That’s what makes this place so special.”
Harkness also noted the critical role SPLOST revenue has played in community improvements, particularly for smaller municipalities.
“That SPLOST really means everything to us,” he said.
County accomplishments: infrastructure, partnerships, and financial discipline
Sims — who became county manager in April after serving as chief financial officer — delivered an extensive overview of the county’s achievements in 2025.
Financial stability
The county ended FY 2025 with a budget surplus of approximately $500,000, Sims said.
“We were under-spent by our revenues by about five hundred thousand dollars,” Sims explained. “We’ve been able to put that back into our savings account and our fund balance.”
He also noted stronger-than-expected Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) collections, boosted by changes to online sales tax legislation.
SPLOST-backed projects
The next SPLOST cycle is expected to generate more than $100 million beginning in 2027. Current SPLOST revenue supports several major projects, including:
- The new countywide radio communications system, now nearly complete, expected to provide roughly 93% countywide coverage when online. Sims said the system is expected to go live in early 2026.
- The new Animal Control facility, currently under construction with an anticipated completion date of August 2026.
- Improvements to the Aquatic Center, recreation fields, courthouse security, and water/sewer infrastructure.
Sims emphasized the importance of the county’s partnership with municipal governments and praised the strong working relationships across jurisdictions.
“There was a real sense of collaboration and cooperation between the county and the cities,” Sims said.
“We hope to continue fostering that cooperative spirit going into the new year.”
Cities share updates and future plans
Several municipal leaders spoke during the closing portion of the program:
Baldwin
Outgoing Mayor Stephanie Almagno announced the swearing-in of the city’s new manager, Tiera Morrison, and thanked residents for supporting the countywide Christmas parade.
Clarkesville
Mayor-elect Franklin Brown highlighted strong commercial activity, with 224 Clarkesville businesses generating more than $200 million annually. He also announced new development projects, including a Waffle House and a proposed boutique hotel at the former courthouse site.
“Our goal is something unique — something that draws people to Clarkesville,” Brown said.
Mount Airy
Councilman Patrick Ledford praised residents for supporting SPLOST over several decades and emphasized the town’s commitment to conservative financial management.
“We raised our millage rate very marginally this year — the first increase in more than 30 years,” Ledford said.
Looking ahead to 2026
Sims said the county’s priorities in the coming year include:
- Completing the radio system
- Advancing SPLOST-funded facility upgrades
- Continuing water and sewer improvements
- Maintaining financial transparency and stability
He also reaffirmed county leadership’s commitment to open government.
“Our goal is always to be transparent with folks,” Sims said. “That’s why we live-streamed this morning’s event and posted it on our website.”
Watch the Full State of the County Address
Residents can view the entire presentation, including the slideshow, at the link below:
