With the Georgia 2026 legislative session starting soon, I figured we'd start a conversation about the Georgia budget.

Most important issues affecting Cherokee County reflected in this FY26 Georgia budget report

This Governor’s Budget Report is statewide (not county-by-county), but several big-ticket items and policy areas in it map directly onto what tends to matter most in fast-growing Cherokee County: roads, water/sewer capacity, schools, public safety, and cost-of-living/taxes.

1) Transportation capacity + congestion (state & local road funding)

Cherokee’s growth makes mobility the #1 pressure point. The report emphasizes major transportation investment and explicitly boosts money that can reach local governments.

• $743M for GDOT “capital construction and freight infrastructure projects” (AFY 2025 narrative).
• $250M additional for Local Road Assistance grants to local governments (AFY 2025 highlights, “Mobile Georgia”).
• $60M for the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (low-interest loans/grants for local transportation/mobility projects).

Why it matters locally: even if specific projects aren’t listed for Cherokee here, these are the buckets that typically fund/enable corridor improvements, intersection work, and local road resurfacing/upgrade support.

2) Water & wastewater infrastructure (capacity for growth)

Fast residential and commercial growth stresses water/sewer systems. The report makes water infrastructure a central theme in one-time investments:

• $250M to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for water/wastewater infrastructure via loans and grants to local governments (AFY 2025 highlights).
• The Governor’s letter also frames a large share of one-time funds going to “water and transportation infrastructure” statewide.

Why it matters locally: Cherokee’s ability to approve/serve new development and maintain service levels is constrained by plant capacity, lines, and long-lead capital projects—this is the primary state-level funding channel mentioned.

3) K-12 school growth + school safety

Enrollment growth and staffing/benefits costs are key issues in Cherokee County schools.

• $305.9M for K-12 enrollment growth and training/experience (FY 2026 highlights).
• $173.8M for the state share of employer increases for certified educators participating in the State Health Benefit Plan (FY 2026 highlights).
• $50M one-time for school security grants (AFY 2025 highlights).
• $20M to replace 227 school buses (FY 2026 highlights).

Why it matters locally: these items affect class sizes, staffing costs, and school operations—especially in a high-growth district.

4) Public safety / corrections / courts pressure

Even if county government doesn’t run state prisons, state public-safety spending influences local crime response, jail backlogs, court caseload flow, and overall enforcement capacity.

• The report calls out over $603M combined (AFY25 + FY26 proposals) for Georgia Department of Corrections improvements (Governor’s letter narrative).
• It also includes statewide investments in enforcement/investigation capacity (e.g., GBI facilities/equipment in highlights).

Why it matters locally: staffing and capacity issues upstream/downstream can affect how quickly cases move, detention pressures, and coordination with local agencies.

5) Tax relief / cost-of-living impacts (property-tax related relief + rebates)

For Cherokee residents, affordability and taxes are always front-and-center.

• The Governor’s letter states more than $7.6B returned via “property tax relief, motor fuel tax relief, and income tax rebates and cuts” since 2021, and proposes an additional $1B one-time tax rebate.

Why it matters locally: while this isn’t “Cherokee-only,” it directly affects household budgets and the political environment around local millage rates, SPLOST, and service demands.

Cherokee County FY 2026 Budget Impact: A 1-Pager for Local Leaders

As Cherokee County continues its rapid growth, the FY 2026 Georgia State Budget offers several high-impact funding streams and grant opportunities. Below is a breakdown of the "likely winners" for our community, detailing what is funded, who applies, and why it matters for our local infrastructure and economy.

1. Transportation & Infrastructure (The "Mobile Georgia" Initiative)

• Local Road Assistance (LRA) Grants: An additional $250M is allocated for local road maintenance. This is a direct boost to the existing LMIG (Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant) program.
  • Who Applies: Cherokee County Board of Commissioners and City Public Works departments (Woodstock, Canton, etc.).
  • Local Relevance: This funding is critical for resurfacing and safety improvements on high-traffic local corridors like Highway 92 and Bells Ferry Road.
• Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB): $60M in competitive grants and low-interest loans for local projects.
  • Who Applies: Local governments and Community Improvement Districts (CIDs).
  • Local Relevance: Ideal for "gap funding" on major intersection improvements or bridge replacements that need a final push to reach the construction phase.

2. Water & Wastewater Development

• GEFA Low-Interest Loans: $250M is added to the Georgia Fund specifically for water and sewer infrastructure.
  • Who Applies: Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority (CCWSA) and municipal utility departments.
  • Local Relevance: As new developments (HOAs/SaaS targets) come online, these loans provide the capital needed to expand capacity without immediate, massive rate hikes for residents.
• Federal Match Funding: $24.9M is set aside to match federal Clean Water and Drinking Water funds, ensuring Georgia (and Cherokee) doesn't leave federal dollars on the table.

3. Education & Workforce Growth

• K-12 Vocational & High-Demand Equipment Grants: $1.25M for vocational classrooms and $178.5M for statewide school construction/renovation.
  • Who Applies: Cherokee County School District (CCSD).
  • Local Relevance: Supports the expansion of CTI (Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education) programs, ensuring local students are "workforce ready" for the growing tech and industrial sectors in North Georgia.
• School Security Grants: $50M in one-time funds for safety upgrades.
  • Who Applies: CCSD and local law enforcement partners.
  • Local Relevance: Funds physical security enhancements (cameras, hardened entries) for our rapidly expanding school campuses.

4. Economic Development & Housing

• Rural Workforce Housing & Site Development: $48M total for the OneGeorgia Authority.
  • Who Applies: Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) and local Development Authorities.
  • Local Relevance: While Cherokee is increasingly suburban, its northern reaches qualify for "Rural" designations in certain state programs, helping to attract "shovel-ready" industrial sites and affordable housing for the local workforce.
• Regional Commission Funding: $902k increase to help Regional Commissions (like the Atlanta Regional Commission, which includes Cherokee) assist with coordinated planning.

5. Public Safety & Judicial Pressure

• Accountability Courts: $512k increase to serve more individuals.
  • Who Applies: Cherokee County Superior Court.
  • Local Relevance: Helps manage the judicial backlog by providing alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders, reducing the long-term cost of the county jail.

Next Steps for CCRP: We should focus our advocacy on ensuring Cherokee's "fair share" of the $250M LRA and $60M GTIB funds. These are the most immediate levers for improving the daily quality of life for our residents and the business environment for our real estate and development sectors.