Columbus council reviews FY26 midyear budget; debate centers on pay increases for Muscogee County Prison staff
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Summary
City finance staff presented a midyear FY26 budget amendment that incorporates prior-year carryovers and proposed pay adjustments; councilors debated using salary savings versus permanent raises for Muscogee County Prison correctional officers and directed staff to draft a one-time bonus option and return with revenue modeling.
Councilors spent the largest portion of their Jan. 13 meeting on the FY26 midyear budget amendment and whether to make pay adjustments for correctional officers permanent or temporary. Finance Director Angelica Alexander described the amendment as a compilation of prior-year rollovers, reserve carryovers and new items that must be incorporated for FY26, including $2.4 million in rollovers and about $3.8 million in reserved carryovers. The amendment also incorporates funds tied to school-zone camera fine distributions and a $2.4 million appropriation for an Uptown Pickleball kickoff.
The most contentious discussion centered on Muscogee County Prison (MCP) pay. The warden told council that MCP had been losing staff to neighboring agencies and state prisons after recent market pay increases elsewhere, and requested raising MCP correctional officers’ base pay an additional $2,500 (bringing the total contemplated increase to $5,000) to remain competitive. Warden testimony described earlier vacancy-driven salary savings and estimated recruiting losses to Rutledge State Prison and the sheriff’s office.
Councilors pressed finance staff on alternatives. Alexander explained the city’s fiscal policy: current-year salary savings are not a reliable source for ongoing, permanent pay increases but can be used for one-time bonuses or to cover overtime and stipends. She also noted an anticipated increase in per-inmate reimbursement from the Department of Corrections (from $24 to $30 per day), and staff estimated that a permanent $5,000 pay increase to MCP would cost roughly $357,000 annually. Councilor discussion weighed short-term retention needs against long-term budget impacts and the risk of precedent-setting requests from other departments.
After extended questioning, council asked staff to work with the city attorney to reword the midyear amendment so the MCP adjustment could be implemented as a one-time bonus this fiscal year while staff models the revenue and long-term cost implications for FY27. Finance agreed to return with a report detailing the $357,000 annual estimate, the projected increase in DOC revenue, and options for financing a permanent change if council chooses that route. Several councilors emphasized a preference for phased or bonus-based approaches until the FY27 budget process and revenue forecasts are clearer.
The midyear amendment remains on first reading; council took multiple related votes on other items during the meeting but deferred a final midyear adoption until staff provides the requested cost and revenue details.
