EAST COBB — An advocate for education and other causes was named the 22nd East Cobb Citizen of the Year on Wednesday.

Karen Hallacy was praised before a breakfast audience of more than 60 people for her work as a PTA president at the local and state levels, serving as the chair of several committees. She has also served on several school area councils and co-chaired the Cobb County School District’s SPLOST III committee.

“It’s very rare that I’m at a loss for words,” Hallacy said after the ceremony at Indian Hills Country Club. “There’s so many people that are very deserving.”

Along with her education duties, Hallacy served as chair of the Neighborhood Safety Commission, leading initiatives like the police email notification system, as well as gang awareness and homeland security. She has also been involved with the East Cobb Civic Association and was a graduate of Leadership Cobb’s 2012 class.

“I’m most proud of the different variety of things I’m involved with,” she said.

Hallacy was nominated for the honor by Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens, who was named East Cobb Citizen of the Year in 1997, and Kim Paris, WellStar Health system senior vice chairman, who received the award in 2002. Both were in attendance Wednesday.

“She exemplifies what the Citizen of the Year award is all about,” Paris said of Hallacy. “Someone who gives back to the community for all the right reasons and gives tirelessly for the community.”

Hallacy, a 20-year east Cobb resident, lives with her husband, Don, and three children.

Since 1991, the East Cobb Chamber Board, East Cobb Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Club, the Civitan Club, the Lions Club and the East Cobb Business Association have selected the East Cobb Citizen of the Year.

Before the award was presented to Hallacy, Cobb Commission Chairman Tim Lee updated attendees on the county’s budget situation. He said the county government will seek to save money by using priority-based budgeting, which will give the public input into where it feels the county should spend more, or less, money.

“What are the priorities and what will you pay for and to what extent?” he said.

In addition, the county plans to contract out services in December that will provide health clinics for county employees. Lee said this will save the county $1 million in its first year by identifying previously undetected diseases.