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Commission reviews budget revisions: drone line, $372,000 extended‑day program and officer pay adjustments
Summary
City staff updated the Commission on June 3 about modest changes to the proposed FY2026 budget: a $200,000 addition for a police drone initiative, a $372,000 addition to expand extended‑day recreation programs (offset by program revenues), and salary adjustments that bring starting police pay into the low‑$50,000 range after cost‑of‑living steps.
City finance staff presented updated revisions to the proposed fiscal‑year budget at the June 3 work session, highlighting three items commissioners requested staff to surface before public comment.
Finance staff (Steve, Finance Director) said the original proposed budget was approximately $342 million (presentation gave a preliminary full amount) and described three recent modifications: a $200,000 increase for a police drone initiative, a personnel‑cost adjustment for organizational development, and a $372,000 add for an extended‑day recreation program that is expected to be offset by program fees and revenues if implemented.
The extended‑day program would expand offerings into five school‑based sites—Lake Hart Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Live Oak Elementary, Morningside Pre‑K and Magnolia Pre‑K—using existing recreation staff supported by part‑time hires. Staff said the program projection estimates roughly $375,000 in program revenue against about $371,000 in program costs (a near break‑even projection) and would serve after‑school hours during the school year (about 37 weeks); current parent fees were cited as $30 per week and the school system currently collects comparable fees for similar services.
On pay, the finance briefing noted the starting salary for officers in FY2025 was $51,850; with a proposed 3% across‑the‑board increase that figure would rise to about $53,040. Finance staff and commissioners discussed recruitment and retention tradeoffs and noted the city has previously increased starting pay significantly in recent years to remain competitive in Southwest Georgia.
Commission discussion touched on equity of site selection for the extended‑day program (concerns that proposed schools are not necessarily the highest‑need locations) and on whether federal or state funds could help subsidize extended‑day slots; staff said the model uses fees already charged by schools and that further coordination with the school system is recommended. Commissioners asked staff to return options for hotel‑motel allocations, capital requests and any required contract updates.
Ending: Staff will return with refined revenue assumptions, contract updates and hotel‑motel allocation options as part of the continuing budget process; commissioners also urged continued focus on recruitment, retention and community‑based approaches to public safety staffing.
