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Cusseta–Chattahoochee adopts FY2025 budget, will use reserves to close remaining shortfall
Summary
After two public hearings the commission unanimously adopted a $2025 fiscal-year budget on June 24, 2024; County Manager Thomas Weaver cut line items and recommended using reserves to close the last $198,000 gap while urging a longer-term plan for balancing.
The Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County adopted its fiscal year 2025 operating and capital budget on June 24, 2024, after two public hearings and months of line-item reductions that cut a projected shortfall from about $2 million to roughly $198,000.
County Manager Thomas Weaver, who led the budget work, told commissioners the county began the process roughly $2,000,000 over projected revenues. After several rounds of adjustments and cuts the gap narrowed to $621,000 and then to about $198,000 by the second public hearing. Weaver said additional immediate cuts would be “not educated or not thought out,” and recommended the commission use reserve funds to balance the books while staff continues to refine the budget and seek efficiencies. “At some point, you got to snatch that band aid off and get it done,” Weaver said.
Chairman Charles Coffey commended Weaver’s reductions but urged ongoing accountability from departments and constitutional officers. Coffey singled out Public Safety and the county’s new EMS program as cost centers the board should re-examine, and told residents the two choices for closing persistent deficits would be “either cutting expenses or raising taxes.”
The commission voted unanimously to adopt the FY2025 budget at a called meeting June 24; the motion to approve was made by Commissioner Timothy Biddle and seconded by Commissioner Gerald Douglas.
During the June 4 public hearing, resident David Smith suggested the federal government should provide more assistance to rural counties; Weaver responded that water utilities are largely self-funded and that he is reviewing IGSA figures and other revenue options. Weaver told the board the county projects roughly $5 million in revenues against about $5,153,475 in projected expenses, and that further changes will be needed to reach a recurring balanced budget.
Votes at a glance - Adopt FY2025 budget (Called meeting, June 24, 2024): motion by Commissioner Timothy Biddle, second by Commissioner Gerald Douglas; outcome: approved unanimously. - Employee insurance renewal (June 4, 2024 regular meeting): motion by Commissioner Jason Frost; outcome: approved unanimously. - Georgia Forestry Fire Tower Agreement (resolution, June 4, 2024): authorized; county payment not to exceed $4,738.58 for July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025. - Reappointments to Lower Chattahoochee Regional Transportation Authority (June 4, 2024): Timothy Biddle reappointed through June 30, 2028; Gerald Douglas reappointed through June 30, 2026. - GA Hwy 520 Roundabout grant acceptance (June 4, 2024): accepted; county share reported as a 40/60 match with county exposure capped at $52,000.
What happens next County staff will continue to refine spending projections and bring any department budget overages or amendment requests back to the commission with explanations, per Coffey’s direction. The board did not adopt permanent staffing changes at the meeting; commissioners discussed options such as a shared floater position to reduce personnel costs. The FY2025 budget takes effect July 1, 2024.
