Cusseta‑Chattahoochee approves FY2025 budget, uses reserves to close remaining gap

The Unified Government of Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County adopted its fiscal‑year 2025 operating and capital budget on June 24, 2024, voting unanimously to approve the plan after two public hearings held June 4 and June 24.

County Manager Thomas Weaver told commissioners the budget process began with an approximately $2,000,000 shortfall between proposed spending and projected revenues. After line‑item reductions presented during the work sessions and hearings, Weaver said the deficit had been cut to roughly $621,000 during early adjustments and then to about $198,000 by the June 24 hearing. "We are just shy of $5 million on projected revenues, and for actual expenses we have $5,153,475," Weaver said, adding that he expected to present a balanced budget for the next fiscal year.

Chairman Charles Coffey said the board would cover the remaining gap using reserve funds if necessary but emphasized the limited options. "There are two fixes to it, either cutting expenses or raising taxes," Coffey said, and he urged department heads to come forward explaining any future requests for budget amendments: "when these departments need an amendment, they need to start coming and asking and explaining why they need one."

Commissioner Timothy Biddle moved to approve the budget during a called meeting on June 24; Commissioner Gerald Douglas seconded the motion, which passed with a unanimous vote. The board then signed a formal resolution adopting the FY2025 budget.

The commission's budget hearings included discussion of potential department cuts, staffing alternatives and contingency planning. Commissioner Jason Frost urged creative staffing solutions, such as a floater position to share duties across offices, as a way to trim personnel costs. County Manager Weaver said he did not want to make additional uncalculated cuts at that moment and recommended a measured plan that could include a temporary draw from reserves.

Public comment during the hearings included one attendee, David Smith, who pressed commissioners to compare local spending and patrol areas with neighboring counties and suggested greater federal support for local needs. Weaver responded that certain services, such as water, are self‑funding and highlighted an intergovernmental service agreement (IGSA) figure he had reviewed since taking the county manager role.

The resolution adopting the budget notes the two public hearings and records that the board considered and revised the proposed plan before adoption. Next steps identified by commissioners include closer budget planning earlier in the fiscal cycle and formal explanations to the public whenever departments request amendments that affect the adopted budget.

The board adjourned the called meeting at 11:10 a.m. on June 24, 2024.