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City opens FY2026 budget public hearing; proposed total $229.1 million, adoption set for June 2
Summary
The City Council opened a public hearing on the proposed fiscal-year-2026 budget of $229,100,451. Council accepted public comment, extended the hearing time by request, and held the adoption deadline to the council’s June 2 meeting as required by charter.
The East Point City Council opened a public hearing on May 19 on the proposed fiscal-year-2026 budget, which the interim finance director presented as a $229,100,451 omnibus plan covering operating funds, utilities, capital projects and restricted grants.
Interim Director of Finance read the ordinance that accompanies the budget; the ordinance text in the meeting packet listed a $229,100,451 total across operating, enterprise and capital funds. The major line items included an electric utility fund of roughly $56 million, a water and sewer fund of about $30 million, and capital projects of about $23 million, plus the hotel-motel tax and other special-revenue funds.
The council opened the public comment period and extended the hearing time after residents requested more opportunity to speak. Dozens of residents made public comments during the hearing. Supporters praised cultural events (for example, Wind Down Wednesday) and recent parks and sidewalk work; others expressed frustration about transparency and called for greater detail on line-item spending and on how budgeted funds link to city priorities. Several speakers urged the council to set aside a multi-million-dollar “rainy day” or resident-facing assistance fund to address rising costs and to consider resident relief in the event of economic stress.
Other public commenters urged the council to examine utility and sanitation rates and the budgets that underlie them before considering rate changes, and to make budget priorities and program metrics more explicit. One resident asked the council to identify and publish measurable metrics and timelines tied to the budget and to the city’s strategic plans.
Why it matters: The FY2026 budget sets revenue and spending priorities for police, utilities, streets, parks and economic development through June 30, 2026. Council must adopt a budget by the first council meeting in June (June 2). Several council members signaled additional questions and pledged to review the newly issued detailed budget book — provided to the council and public at the meeting — before adoption.
What’s next: The council will consider formal adoption at its June 2 meeting. Staff and council members indicated they will follow up with answers to specific public and council questions on fund balances, hotel-motel accounting and proposed capital expenditures before the adoption vote.
