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Cusseta–Chattahoochee budget hearings spotlight $740,000 shortfall; commissioners consider tax and fee options
Summary
At public budget hearings in April, county officials said the proposed FY2025 budget begins with an estimated $740,000 deficit. Commissioners discussed cuts, possible millage increases, a proposed $2 monthly trash-rate hike and department staffing requests including a Superior Court Clerk plea for immediate help.
Cusseta–Chattahoochee County officials told residents during April public hearings that the county’s proposed budget begins with an estimated $740,000 shortfall and that elected leaders must choose between cuts, fee increases or a higher millage rate.
“ We are starting at a $740,000.00 deficit and we need to get it down to be balanced,” County Manager Thomas Weaver said at the April 1 budget hearing, summarizing departmental submissions and noting that ambulance service revenue since startup has been about $130,000.
Elected and appointed officials discussed options across several hearings in April. Commissioners and staff flagged items that could be cut or shifted to SPLOST (special-purpose local-option sales tax) such as some capital requests. The manager recommended operational savings where possible and suggested a $2 monthly increase to the county trash fee (from $20 to $22) to cover rising disposal costs.
At a subsequent April 14 hearing Superior Court Clerk Tami Wade told commissioners her office has historically operated with three staff and that she must keep the office open 9 a.m.–5 p.m. by law. She asked the commission for about $15,000 to hire part-time help and roughly $10,000 for required software. “I have waited two years,” Wade said, pressing the commission to act sooner than a year she said would be required for possible HB581 sales-tax revenue to materialize.
Chairman Charles Coffey and other commissioners acknowledged the clerk’s shortage but stressed that county funding is limited. Coffey suggested that all elected officials consider sacrifices and asked the county manager to prepare a revised set of cuts and options for the next meeting. County Manager Weaver said a small millage increase would not close the gap and that addressing the shortfall could require a larger change in the tax rate.
Commissioners discussed the political and practical difficulty of raising taxes and the potential impacts on residents. Commissioner Jason Frost urged a disciplined approach to operating within means while acknowledging rising health-care and payroll costs for county employees.
Next steps: county staff will prepare a revised budget proposal with recommended cuts and revenue options for the commission’s next meeting; the commission continued the public process with additional hearings and will consider any proposed millage-rate change at a later public session.
