Milton council hears second-round FY2025 budget amendments, including $3 million transfer for athletic complex

Milton City Council members heard the sole public hearing on second-round amendments to the fiscal 2025 budget at a special called meeting Monday, Sept. 8, with staff outlining revenue adjustments and transfers that would affect the city’s year-end fund balance.

The amendments package would reduce FY2025 revenue projections by $178,122 to $48,300,000 and reflect expenditure adjustments that leave the amended budget at about $50,000,000. “The amended revenues for fiscal year 2025 are shown at $48,300,000 after requested amendments that will reduce the budget by $178,122,” Finance staff member Steve said during the presentation.

The amendment packet includes $3,077,451 in adjustments, 98% of which are operating transfers out to other funds. Of that amount, $3,000,000 is proposed to transfer from the general fund to the capital projects fund to support construction of a new active athletic complex on Deerfield Parkway based on the most recent concept design costs. Steve said staff is “continuing to evaluate design options with the consultant and will present to council for input at a future council meeting.”

Why it matters: If approved after the required notice period, these changes will affect year-end balances and the city’s pay-as-you-go capital plan. Staff projected the general fund balance at $12,679,558 should the requested amendments be approved, which the presentation said complies with the city’s 25% fund-balance requirement.

Key revenue and expenditure changes outlined by staff include: - An $85,000 increase in projected current real property tax revenue (based on Fulton County digest data). - A $100,000 increase in title ad valorem tax (TAVT) receipts, attributed to higher-than-forecast vehicle sales. - Reductions of $400,000 in local option sales tax and $85,000 in building-permit revenue projections. - Department-level changes: Police department recognition of $7,108 in insurance proceeds, $8,490 in donations from the Milton First Responders Fund, and a $49,120 request from contingency to cover higher animal-control costs; public works requested $30,540 tied to an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant-funded facility assessment.

Capital and special-fund adjustments described in the presentation include recognition of $38,621 in donations from the Milton First Responders Fund for two police motorcycles; $204,630 in proceeds from sale of older vehicles and fire apparatus; $227,546 corrected grant revenue for the “Big Creek Grama” project in the T-SPLOST (T SPAS) fund; $1,848,332 in Fulton County RGA funding for utility relocation; and $481,430 from impact fees toward eligible road projects. Staff also proposed moving $105,022 of ARPA funding to the capital grant fund where expenses were booked.

Staff emphasized procedural timing: the hearing held Sept. 8 was the only public hearing on the FY2025 amendments; council will consider approval under unfinished business at the regular meeting on Sept. 15. Bernadette Harvill, the city clerk, confirmed there were no public comments on the item.

Discussion versus decision: The Sept. 8 meeting record shows staff presentation and a public hearing only; no formal council decision on the FY2025 amendments occurred at this meeting. A staff presentation noted follow-up actions (design evaluation and future council input) but no formal direction was recorded.

Background: The FY2025 budget was originally adopted Sept. 16, 2024, and an earlier set of amendments was approved June 16, 2025. The packet before council on Sept. 8 was described as the second round of amendments for FY2025.

Next steps: The council will take the item up under unfinished business at its Sept. 15 meeting, where any formal vote to adopt the amendments would occur.