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Cusseta–Chattahoochee commission weighs budget, insurance spike and SPLOST plans
Summary
County Manager Thomas Weaver told commissioners May 6 and May 27 that the draft FY25/26 budget showed a $21,830 shortfall in early May and that a subsequent insurance development raised contingency to about $59,000; staff said SPLOST funds will be used for vehicle and capital replacements and the commission set final adoption for the June meeting.
The Commission of the Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County reviewed its FY2025–26 budget in two public hearings in May, where County Manager Thomas Weaver said staff had reduced spending but still identified a small shortfall and later reported an insurance‑related contingency increase.
"We have overall reduced the budget, to the part where we have a deficit of 21,830.00," Weaver said at the May 6 hearing as he distributed updated budget handouts. He told commissioners the shortfall comes from a series of cuts and that staff expected to be ready to finalize the budget at the next meeting.
At a final public hearing May 27, Weaver said the county had received new information from an insurance company that left a contingency of about $59,000. "With the news of the insurance we are now at a 59,000.00 contingency," he said, adding that staff would continue to work with the insurer and the county's new broker to reduce that figure if possible.
Weaver and commissioners discussed capital outlay priorities, including courthouse projects and vehicle replacements. He said departments may use SPLOST proceeds for planned vehicle purchases and that he had been in talks with the sheriff about trading a surplus vehicle to public works to meet near‑term needs.
Planning and finance items identified in work sessions include: continuing to prioritize SPLOST funding for capital equipment, preparing an adoption motion for the commission's June meeting and gathering final insurance numbers. No members of the public addressed the budget at either May hearing.
The commission did not adopt the budget at the May hearings; the county manager said the finalized adoption would be scheduled for the commission's June meeting.
