Clayton County proposes $335 million FY26 budget; commissioners face $9.8 million rollback choice

Clayton County commissioners on June 17 received a presentation on the proposed fiscal year 2026 general fund budget and held a public hearing where county officials, judges and public-safety leaders urged the board to reconsider or increase funding for courts, prosecutors and defenders.

Angela Jackson, the county's chief financial officer, told the Board of Commissioners that “this year's proposed FY26 general fund budget is $335 million,” representing a 6% increase over the FY25 adopted budget and a 3% decrease from the FY25 amended budget. Jackson said property taxes account for 63.7% of the proposed revenues and that the proposed FY26 net millage rate would be 15.126 mills.

The proposed budget includes salary adjustments, targeted position changes and capital projects. Jackson detailed employee adjustments: “If you earn less than $55,000, you will receive a 3.75% increase. If you earn between $55,000 and $80,000, you will receive a 2.5% increase. If you earn greater than $80,001, you will receive a 1.25% increase.” The increases would be effective July 5, 2025, and require employees to have been employed and in pay status on Jan. 1, 2025.

Jackson said department budget requests totaled $409.6 million and the County made reductions totaling $74.6 million to reach the proposed $335 million. She identified planned capital projects funded mainly by SPLOST and life-to-date funds, including Fire Station 19, facility renovations, phases of the River's Edge walking trail, a police training facility, the International Park amphitheater and vehicle purchases of about $4 million from SPLOST 2021.

Nut graf: The budget presentation sets a spending plan but also triggers a tax-rate decision. Jackson said the rollback millage rate — an estimate provided in April — is 14.579 mills; adopting the proposed 15.126 mills would legally require the county to advertise a tax increase and hold three hearings. Jackson told commissioners that using the estimated rollback rate would require identifying approximately $9.8 million in reductions to balance the FY26 budget.

Public commenters and several county officials urged commissioners to prioritize funding for the courts and public safety. Charles A. Brooks, the county solicitor general, asked the board to “reconsider the budget allocations,” saying his office requested about $375,661 to address pay compression and position reclassifications so his office can “prosecute more aggressively,” including recently received cases involving illegal boarding houses.

Doug Smith, the circuit public defender, said his office is understaffed and described the workload in Superior Court: “Last year ... we ran 7,900 cases through Superior Court,” and the American Bar Association recommendation of about 150 felony cases per attorney far exceeds the office’s current caseload. Smith said the office currently has about 36 employees and that turnover and recruitment make it difficult to meet constitutional obligations for effective assistance of counsel.

Pam Ferguson, chief probate judge, requested a $17,004.66 adjustment to address turnover and pay disparities for fiduciary clerks responsible for reviewing returns the court must process. Commissioner Orlando Gooden (District 3) said any tax or millage changes must be justified and emphasized public safety funding, naming police, sheriff and fire/EMS as priorities.

Board discussion focused on process and timing for budget amendments. Jackson said commissioners may draft amendments and she will prepare the cost impacts; commissioners will circulate amendments to the full board after submission. The CFO said the final adoption of the FY26 budget is scheduled for June 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Jackson reiterated that if the board adopts a rate above the rollback rate, state law requires three advertised hearings in August.

The meeting also included routine procedural votes: the board adopted the meeting agenda at the start of the special call meeting, and the public hearing was adjourned at 5:50 p.m. after commissioners discussed whether to open the floor for additional departmental budget comments.

Ending: Commissioners directed staff to accept proposed amendments from members and to draft amendment language and costings for presentation at the June 24 adoption meeting; they were told that adopting the proposed millage would trigger advertisement of a tax increase and additional hearings in August if the board does not lower the rate to the rollback level.