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Sandy Springs outlines FY26 budget calendar, proposes key staffing and benefit assumptions
Summary
City Manager Laura opened the FY26 budget process with a calendar of meetings and operational assumptions including a proposed 5% cost-of-living adjustment and absorbing an estimated 20% health insurance increase without raising employee premiums.
City Manager Laura opened the City of Sandy Springs’ Fiscal Year 2026 budget process and outlined the review calendar and core assumptions the administration used to build the draft plan. The schedule includes two workshops, a city manager recommended budget presentation on May 27, a first public hearing on June 3 and a final public hearing and adoption scheduled for June 17.
The budget framework is anchored to council-adopted priorities, the city manager said, including public safety, transportation accessibility and sustainable growth. “The purpose of today's meeting is to receive feedback and direction from council as we continue developing the f y 26 budget,” the city manager said.
The city manager presented operating assumptions the administration used to formulate FY26 proposals. Notable items: a proposed 5% cost-of-living adjustment for all city employees; absorbing an estimated 20% increase in health insurance without raising employee premiums; and a projected 18% increase in general liability insurance. The presentation also anticipates continued funding for key subcontractor agreements that provide public safety, 24/7 call-center, frontline public works and parks maintenance services, and required debt service for the Public Facilities Authority.
The proposal includes capital assumptions such as a recommendation for debt issuance of $20,200,000 to fund a complete rebuild of Fire Station 1 and an addition to Station 3; the city manager said debt issuance would be pursued only after additional financial steps and would likely not occur before the fall. She said the budget will also include updates to the five-year capital improvement program and carry-forward of prior-year projects.
Council members asked for more detail on line-item changes and for follow-up data in advance of the next workshop. The city manager asked council to send additional questions by the end of next week so staff can prepare responses for Budget Workshop 2 on May 20.
