Chatham County moves $12.5 million into CIP for community center, gym and contingency

Chatham County commissioners approved a package of budget amendments that moved $12.5 million from the general fund to the county’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) fund and allocated the funds among several projects.

The board record lists the transfers as a $12,500,000 appropriation from the general fund to the CIP fund, with $4,000,000 designated for the Highway 17 safety/community center facilities project, $5,000,000 to establish a gymnasium project and $3,500,000 added to CIP contingency for fiscal year 2026. Staff also presented smaller grant adjustments and increases to multi‑grant revenue and expense lines (including $5,000 items listed for two foundation grants and an $88,211 Georgia Department of Family and Children Services grant line).

Commissioners moved and seconded to approve the action calendar, which included these budget amendments; staff said the CIP transfers fund projects already underway or near completion and allow the county to address additional renovation needs identified by project partners. The board also discussed use of approximately $500,000 in leftover CIP funds for additional renovations at the Mighty Eighth Museum; staff said the county owns the building and the museum operates it, and the leftover funds can be applied to additional repairs and exhibit expansion.

Next steps: staff will oversee project procurement and provide updates to the board as CIP work progresses.