DAWSONVILLE, Ga. –The Board of Commissioners approved the $24.2 million FY 2017 budget Thursday, but not until adopting several amendments proposed by District 3 Commissioner Jimmy Hamby, one of which was to withhold a  $154,000 in county funding for the Development Authority.

Hamby proposed removing $150,000 from agency’s budget plus another $4,000 in the form of a meeting stipend.

The Board’s action comes after the Authority entered an agreement with Kroger last year that grants the company tax relief.

Authority Executive Director Charlie Auvermann said without the relief, Kroger would have moved its existing store to a site outside Dawson County.

“Keeping Kroger in Dawson County and making sure Kroger built one of their new flagship Marketplace facilities was considered to be of the utmost importance,” he said.

Kroger has since announced it will relocate the Dawsonville store to the new retail development going in at the southwest corner of Ga. 400 and Dawson Forest Road.

Other budget amendments approved include the elimination of one new position in the Human Resources Department, removal of a supplement for the Public Defenders office and meeting stipends for the Parks and Recreation and Library Boards.

The amendments resulted in a budget reduction of $168,251.23.

In other business, Tammy Wood read a proclamation declaring Nov. 18-24 Farm-City Week in Dawson County.

Commissioners also heard:

A request from Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Henson to approve a standard services contract in the amount of $44,400 annually with Amicalola Officials Association to provide umpires and referees for Parks and Rec games;

A request from Transit Director Dawn Pruett for approval of a FTA Section 5311 grant to provide operating and capital funds for the Transit Department in the amount of $118,644.29 to be matched by the same amount from the county;

A request from Purchasing Director Davida Simpson to approve updates to the county’s Bid Ordinance and Purchasing Policy adopted in 2007 and move to schedule two public hearings.

Items discussed during the work session can be voted on by the Board at the next regular meeting.