South Fulton keeps millage at 12.399, adopts $425M budget; unions and council press for finalized firefighter agreement

The City Council on Sept. 9 set the city property‑tax millage rate at 12.399 and adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget after public hearings and debate. Council recorded unanimous votes to keep the millage unchanged and to approve the spending plan.

During the evening session the council rejected motions to remove the charter millage cap or to raise it to 18 mills. Both attempted changes failed by recorded votes; council members then moved to adopt the millage rate for tax year 2025 at 12.399 and to adopt the FY 2026 budget.

City Manager Sharon D. Subadan gave context for the earlier millage‑cap discussions, saying city staff and the financial advisor had explored options and ultimately negotiated bank financing for the public‑safety bonds “without increasing or removing our millage cap.” Subadan also told council the budget includes set‑aside funds to cover outstanding collective‑bargaining obligations.

The city manager told council that the budget includes $967,144 identified in the draft as a bargaining contingency for ongoing firefighter collective‑bargaining negotiations. Separately, the budget also includes a $1 million allocation for the Miracle League field project, an initiative council members cited as time‑sensitive.

Firefighters’ union leaders and allied labor representatives urged the council to ensure the budget reflects the outcome of negotiations before final execution. Sandra Williams, president of the Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council, told the council that “adopting the budget prematurely could risk the gap between what is passed on paper and what is required in practice,” and she urged the council to ensure negotiated wage obligations are funded.

Council members said staff has included contingency funding and that the council can amend the budget later if negotiations require additional appropriations. The council voted to adopt the FY 2026 budget and to set the millage rate in the publicly noticed votes; both measures passed unanimously.

Votes and procedure: the council recorded a unanimous vote (7–0) to maintain the millage at 12.399 and a unanimous (7–0) vote to adopt the FY 2026 budget. Council members also unanimously voted against removing the city’s millage cap and against raising it to 18 mills in separate recorded votes earlier in the meeting.

Next steps: staff said they will continue negotiations with the firefighter bargaining unit, and the council retains the option to amend the adopted budget if needed to implement any negotiated settlement.