City Manager Jones and finance staff presented East Point’s proposed FY2026 budget at a public budget meeting, recommending approximately $70,505,915 in general‑fund expenditures and $67,000,000 in proposed capital projects.

The proposed capital program includes $16.3 million for parks and recreation improvements, a tentative $15 million allocation toward a new metroplex recreational center expected to be financed with future bond proceeds, $3 million for municipal building improvements and $2.7 million in financing for police vehicles. Elizabeth Cartwright, the city’s budget manager, said property taxes were estimated at about $26.2 million and comprise roughly 37% of general‑fund revenue.

The budget also proposes targeted infrastructure investments across funds: about $14.9 million in water and sewer capital projects, $10.4 million in electric infrastructure, $2.3 million for stormwater and $379,000 for solid‑waste equipment replacement. City Manager Jones said the capital priorities will feed into a move toward a priority‑based budgeting process and a five‑year outlook for capital improvements.

The city is proposing a new public‑safety drone program to place drones that will link to the 911 center and dispatch automatically to incidents; city staff said drones could get “to the scene before squad cars can get there so roughly 90 seconds.” The presentation said camera feeds from the drone program and the city’s real‑time crime center would be integrated with a network of roughly 250 city cameras and participating business cameras to support investigations and response.

Parks and recreation received multiple line items: $16.3 million in parks and rec capital, continued funding for trail connectivity and programming, and planning for a multi‑leisure recreational center already authorized for design and expected to be covered in part by future bonds. Parks and recreation director Shalour Peegan announced community meetings on May 8 and May 13 for rec center design input.

Employee compensation was another major line item: the presentation described “phase 2” of a compensation plan begun in FY2025, applying pay adjustments to mid‑ and senior‑management staff with an estimated cost of about $3.3 million across funds. Neighborhood stabilization and housing‑stability programs were increased in the draft: support for unhoused families was recommended to rise to $350,000 and the home‑repair program from $20,000 to $250,000.

The water resources section described federal and state grant activity that supports capital work. Melissa Ettria, the city’s water and sewer director, said the department had secured grant‑supported projects and listed planned renovations and water‑line replacements; the presentation also cited support from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority for specific water and stormwater projects.

Fire and emergency services were highlighted: staff noted East Point’s fire department has an ISO Class 1 rating and that rating can lower homeowner insurance costs. The budget presentation included planned finance leases for fire apparatus such as an ambulance and a ladder truck.

City staff repeatedly emphasized public engagement and transparency as budget priorities. City Manager Jones said, “These are some of the most important meetings that the city does throughout the year,” and outlined additional public hearings and in‑person meetings to gather resident input on the draft budget.

The presentation included a slide‑level funds summary showing enterprise‑fund totals (electric and water/sewer) and the capital breakdown by category. Staff said the proposed projects are contingent on final appropriations, grant awards and, for some items, bond proceeds.

The budget presentation will move to scheduled public hearings and further council review before any final adoption.