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Coweta County commissioners ask department directors to justify staffing and capital requests for FY2026 budget
Summary
Commissioners directed staff to invite department directors and constitutional officers to explain staffing, capital needs and service cuts as work on the fiscal year 2026 budget continues; commissioners discussed restoring services cut in prior budgets and asked for clearer public-facing explanations of reductions.
Coweta County commissioners on March 28 asked department directors and constitutional officers to present staffing and capital requests as staff prepares a recommended fiscal year 2026 budget.
The request came during a work session item led by Mr. Fouts, a county staff member, who said the county will begin planning now so a draft budget presented in June reflects commissioners’ priorities. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized they want department leaders — particularly those in large, capital-intensive departments — to explain specific needs such as vehicle replacement cycles, apparatus retirement and staffing levels.
Why it matters: Commissioners said hearing from department directors directly would help the public understand large budget requests and make commissioners’ choices more transparent. Commissioners noted that roughly 70% of the county’s budget is for employees and benefits, and that the county previously made roughly $10 million in cuts in the last budget cycle.
Commissioner comments focused on where to add detail. Several commissioners proposed having the fire department, sheriff’s office, public works (including corrections), and facilities management present their staffing needs and capital plans because those departments have large fleets and facility needs. Commissioners also asked that the presentations include operational rationale (for example, vehicle mileage thresholds and turnover) that the public can evaluate.
Commissioners and staff discussed smaller departments’ needs as well. One commissioner cautioned that a $10,000 capital request for a small department can be as consequential to that department as a multimillion-dollar project is to a larger one, so staff said all department directors will be invited to provide input for the June work session. Commissioners also pressed for identification of items cut in prior budgets — for example, parks and recreation hours and compactor-site changes — so the public can see what would be restored.
Staff said department directors are typically invited to present at budget hearings and that presentation scheduling and vetting will continue; staff also said the budget committee works with department directors after submission to refine details. Mr. Fouts and other staff encouraged commissioners to identify specific items they want included so the recommended draft aligns with the board’s expectations.
The discussion included requests for additional information from departments before the draft is prepared, such as: current costs for contracted veterinary services at animal services versus a full-time hire; the cost-benefit of expanding work-release capacity and whether conversions to additional prison beds are feasible; and the number and location of compactor sites citizens asked to restore.
The board did not take any formal vote on the budget at this meeting. Staff said the June 19 work session will include invited department directors and elected officials and that commissioners’ direction from this session will be used to shape the department presentations.
Ending: Staff said they will incorporate the board’s direction on which departments to prioritize and the type of detail requested, and will return with more-detailed staffing and capital information as part of the FY2026 budget process.
