Cusseta‑Chattahoochee commissioners adopt FY2025 budget, use reserves to close shortfall

The Unified Government of Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the fiscal year 2025 operating and capital budget at a called meeting on June 24, 2024, agreeing to use reserve funds to cover the remaining shortfall.

County Manager Thomas Weaver told commissioners that when departments returned line‑item requests the county faced roughly a $2,000,000 gap between expenses and projected revenues. After multiple rounds of cuts and adjustments, Weaver said the deficit was narrowed to about $198,000 ahead of final adoption. "We started with a deficit of around $2,000,000 and now we are down to $198,000," Weaver said during the June 24 hearing.

Why it matters: the commission’s decision closes the county’s immediate funding gap while preserving operational continuity. Commissioners emphasized that using reserves is temporary and that departments and constitutional officers must seek commission approval for any budget amendments that increase spending.

Weaver and Chairman Charles Coffey described two options to address ongoing shortfalls: cut expenses or raise taxes. "If we are going to have to start going into the reserve to balance the budget there are two fixes to it, either cutting expenses or raising taxes," Coffey told the public at the June 4 hearing. Coffey and other commissioners said they expect department leaders to justify future amendment requests publicly.

The numbers discussed publicly include Weaver’s statement that projected revenues for the upcoming year were "just shy of $5 million" while projected expenses were $5,153,475. Weaver said he plans to continue work to produce a balanced budget for subsequent years while minimizing abrupt, unvetted cuts.

Public input at the hearings was limited. Local resident David Smith said the federal government should provide more assistance to counties, a suggestion Weaver acknowledged but did not commit the commission to pursuing. The commission held two public hearings on the budget, on June 4 and June 24, before the June 24 called meeting that adopted the budget.

Formal action: Commissioner Timothy Biddle moved to approve the FY2025 operating and capital project budget; Commissioner Gerald Douglas seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The adoption was recorded in the minutes for the June 24 called meeting and attested at the July 2 regular meeting.

Next steps: Commissioners instructed department heads to present and justify any future amendment requests and asked the county manager to begin next year’s budget process earlier to avoid last‑minute shortfalls.