Statesboro council approves third amendment to FY2025 budget to fund code‑compliance work

Statesboro Mayor Jonathan McCauley and the City Council on May 6 approved Resolution 2025‑O7, the third amendment to the city’s fiscal year 2025 budget, increasing appropriations to reflect higher building‑permit revenue and to fund contract labor and demolition for code‑compliance cases.

City finance staff presented the amendment during the council meeting, saying building‑permit revenue exceeded expectations by $285,000 and that the city identified $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to cover increased contract labor services for code‑enforcement work and demolition of unsafe structures.

The budget amendment adjusts revenues and expenditures across city funds so the budget remains balanced and available to pay incurred and anticipated costs. City staff said the increased contract labor and demolition funds respond to an uptick in code‑enforcement orders and specific properties requiring remediation.

Mister Penn, who presented the amendment, cited two examples of properties that have driven the need for additional funding: a nursing home in disrepair where asbestos removal is the main cost driver, and an older house near North Main and Parish Street whose roof has collapsed. Penn said asbestos removal for the nursing home is estimated at about $70,000, while the city’s original demolition line items were budgeted at lower amounts and would not cover the full cleanup costs.

Council members asked no substantive questions during the discussion. The council voted to approve the resolution; the motion carried with the council voting in the affirmative.

The amendment formally increases the appropriation for contract labor under ARPA and updates revenue estimates to reflect higher building‑permit receipts. The action allows city code‑compliance teams to proceed with required remediation work, with individual demolitions to be carried out as orders are finalized.