Budget highlights include $5.7

million to renovate the county's Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center located

at 265 Boulevard, NE, Atlanta. The approximately 50,000-square-foot state-of-the

art facility will house an out-patient center providing substance abuse,

mental health, and physical health.

Funding of $3.6 million will

build Phase II of the Southwest Fulton Performing Arts Center, located

at 915 New Hope Road. When completed, the 23,500-square-foot addition

will feature a 350-seat theater.

Other capital projects include

$3.1 million for a new Fairburn Senior Center, $1.4 million to complete

funding for north Fulton's Ocee Library branch, $6 million for county-wide

equipment replacement, and $5.5 million for roads in unincorporated Fulton

County.

The board approved $149.8 million

in operational funding for agencies and departments supporting health

and human services. This represents 24.4 percent of the 2003 budget.

Of that total, $80.6 million

is for the Grady Health System, $25.8 million is for the Human Services

Department, $16.6 million will go to the Health and Wellness Department,

$12.1 million is for the Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and

Addictive Disease Department, and $14.7 million is slated for the Fulton

County Department of Family and Children and Services.

In 2003, the County will commit

$179.9 million to the Criminal Justice System, which represents 29.3 percent

of the 2003 budget. The sheriff's department and the county jail, the

largest element within the Criminal Justice System, will receive $78.1

million.

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library

System is slated to receive $30.8 million and the Arts Council will get

$5.7 million.

Other key elements of the General

Fund include reduced funding for temporary employees and an employee hiring

freeze.

The Special Services District

Fund, which supports municipal-type services to Fulton residents living

in unincorporated areas, will get $109.4 million with $6.8 million in

reserve.

The 2003 budget includes a

2 percent salary increase for county employees effective in January.

The 2003 County General Fund

millage rate will not be set until June, but this budget does not contemplate

any increase from the previous year.