Hoschton public hearing brings resident questions on 2026 budget, sewer expansion and master plan funding

The Hoschton City Council opened a public hearing on the proposed 2026 budget, and residents used the forum to press staff and council for details about line items, capital projects and the timing of major sewer work.

Resident Edwin Acevedo asked for explanations of several budget lines, saying, “It looks like that the overall budget is about 10%,” and flagged a roughly 21% rise in park impact fees. He also questioned why planning-and-zoning regular employee lines were zeroed out and why the police impact-fee line appeared far smaller than projected department needs. “I had it under impact fees, but I thought it was a line under impact fees that’s targeted,” Acevedo said, and staff replied that impact fees “cannot be spent on regular m and o or salaries or anything,” only on capital infrastructure.

Why it matters: the exchange highlights limits on how the city can use impact fees — they may fund police facilities or equipment but not day-to-day operations — and points to gaps residents see between revenue lines and departmental asks.

Council member Scott (last…