In his Nov. 13 regular meeting, Union County Sole Commissioner Harold Collins recognized an outstanding achievement by the Fifth Grade Recreation Football Team, executed a new SPLOST agreement, held a Fiscal Year 2026 Proposed Budget presentation and more.
Kicking things off, Collins welcomed the young players and volunteer coaches of the Rec Department’s Fifth Grade Football Team, which clinched the Mountain Football League Super Bowl Championship with a decisive 32-21 victory over Dawson County on Oct. 25.
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Proud parents and grandparents filled the Jury Assembly Room inside the Union County Courthouse, looking on as the players gathered at the front of the room to receive certificates of achievement and much-deserved applause.
“I believe if you ask each of these young men how they got here, they would tell you, ‘hard work,’” County Manager Tony Hughes said. “This team has put in countless hours, and it didn’t start this year. They began when many of them were in kindergarten.
“There was evenings when they barely had enough players – there’s 14 on the roster, leaving only three subs. They made the playoffs in the first, third and fourth grades, but each time they came up short because they didn’t make it to the Super Bowl.
“But they have never truly come up short. As we reflect back, our hope is that they realize every inch of progress, every season of perseverance, brought them closer to this goal.
“This team is well-coached by men who have taught them that being part of something bigger than themselves is what truly matters. Coaches who both demand and give respect on and off the field. Coaches who lead in prayer, mentor with patience, and teach how to face adversity with strength.
“These volunteers show up not just to coach but to impact young lives. Many of them coach multiple sports, and we deeply appreciate their dedication to the Recreation Department.
“While we are thrilled to see these young men stand tall as Super Bowl Champions, there’s so much more to celebrate than their record alone.
“To the parents, thank you for trusting us with your children, for investing your time and support in our coaches and our Recreation Department. Parents play a vital role in a team’s success, and this group has truly set the bar high. We are grateful for each of you.
“Congratulations, Fifth Grade Mountain Football League Super Bowl Champions.”
Among other meeting business, Commissioner Collins adopted a resolution accepting the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Intergovernmental Agreement with the City of Blairsville.
The agreement is for SPLOST VI, for which Collins is planning to call a referendum to appear on ballots in the May 2026 General Primary Election. This would be a continuation of the long-running 1% sales tax used for capital projects in the county and city.
“This Intergovernmental Agreement addresses the disbursement of SPLOST proceeds among the city and county,” Collins said. “This will be a continuation of the current SPLOST, which is 1 penny on every dollar spent in Union County, and is not a new or additional tax.
“The current SPLOST will end in March of 2027. The duration of this SPLOST will be from April 2027 to March of 2033.”
As discussed in the July 8 regular meeting of the Blairsville City Council, the agreement specifies that the city will receive 9% of SPLOST VI proceeds if the referendum passes in May. That is 0.5% greater than the city’s distribution in the currently running SPLOST V.
Collins also adopted a resolution seeking the introduction of local legislation in the Georgia General Assembly to create a new Technology Fee for Union County Probate Court.
“Probate Court has requested that local legislation be passed in the upcoming legislative session to allow for the court to collect a technology fee for the filing of each civil action and with the imposition of any criminal fine, to provide for technology upgrades as needed,” Collins said.
“I support this request and ask members of our legislative delegation to propose such legislation in the 2026 Session of the Georgia General Assembly,” he concluded.
The commissioner appointed Gavin King as a full, voting member on the Union County Development Authority Board of Directors. King previously served as an ex-officio member and will fill the remaining board term of Doug Anderson, set to expire on May 31, 2027.
County Manager Hughes gave updates on county operations, including that road paving has wound down amid the colder weather. He said several road signs had been vandalized and a traffic safety mirror repeatedly broken, warning cameras would be installed to catch offenders if the destruction continues.
“I don’t like seeing folks tear up county property – it’s just costing taxpayers money,” Hughes said.
County Finance Director Kay Wilcox led a presentation on the FY26 Proposed Budget, including an overview of the remaining budget timeline and the mechanics of government accounting, as well as the differences between various county funds, departments and funded activities.
Wilcox also highlighted the fact that people will see “major differences” between the current year budget adopted last December and Collins’ first budget as commissioner, which he will soon be adopting to fund county government through 2026.
The “wholesale changes to the budget, the budget process and the budget presentation” compared with last year are designed to increase transparency for the public regarding county finances while more closely aligning with governmental finance best practices.
Most changes clarify budgetary elements to better show how money is allocated. For example, the formerly unspecified Rec Department budget – once shown as a lump sum under “Operating Transfers to Other Funds” – is now clearly marked with its own section and breakdown.
The likewise nondescript “Internal Service Fund” for health insurance has been completely removed from the budget, with those costs being reassigned this year to each specific departmental budget.
Similar changes have been made across the budget, and funds have been specified with their own line items.
Wilcox did not go into specifics about the budget, saying she would be able to do so after Nov. 19, which is when the Finance Department will officially present the preliminary budget to the commissioner and publish it in the North Georgia News legal organ and on the county website.
The occasion served as the first of a two-part budget presentation, with the second part set for a Dec. 2 public meeting, during which Wilcox will answer questions from the public. In the meantime, she has invited people to submit questions ahead of time at the Commissioner’s Office.
People may attend the budget public hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m. inside the Union County Courthouse.
Collins expects to adopt the FY26 Final Budget in his Dec. 16 regular county meeting.
