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Chair oversees adoption of 2026 Rockdale County appropriations ordinance after second reading; commissioners discuss reallocations and public concerns
Summary
Rockdale County commissioners adopted an ordinance setting 2026 appropriations after a second reading following a presentation by CFO Javed Majid. Commissioners and members of the public discussed reallocated funds (not an overall increase), a $25,000 addition for Viewpoint Health, and requests for more detail on the water enterprise fund.
The Rockdale County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt an ordinance setting appropriations for the 2026 fiscal year after a second reading during its Dec. 2, 2025 meeting in Assembly Hall.
CFO Javed Majid presented the October 2025 fiscal update, telling commissioners that the fiscal year is 10 months in with two months (16.67%) remaining and that some departments are underspending. "Overall general fund is under spending right now about 5.9 percent or so," Majid said, adding the staff projects that underspending will narrow to roughly 2% by year end and that the county will return with final numbers in March or April. Majid said staff could implement "neutral budget adjustments" — transfers between departments — if necessary.
During public comment, a resident raised concerns about the amended budget showing $25,000 added for Viewpoint Health, noting earlier proposals discussed $50,000 or $90,000. The commenter said, "25,000 was added for Viewpoint," asked whether other Viewpoint locations pay rent, and questioned whether commissioners were balancing citizen needs with increased fees. The Chair responded that the board had not increased the overall budget but had reallocated money among departments.
Charlotte Gellert asked for more specifics about enterprise funds for water, sewer and stormwater, including fund balance and how the reported $77,968,000 in water-related revenue would be allocated. Majid offered to provide those details after the meeting and pointed the public to the water detail in the ordinance (pages 45–48).
Clerk read item 5 55, described in the record as "an ordinance to amend and provide appropriations for the period beginning 01/01/2026 and ending 12/31/2026" covering county operations and funds. The Chair moved to approve the second reading and adopt the ordinance "as presented," the vice chair seconded, and the board approved the measure by voice vote. The record does not include a roll-call tally.
The ordinance establishes the county's appropriations for 2026; commissioners discussed that some previously allocated grants and agency contributions (for example, past allocations to the Boys & Girls Club) were the subject of internal budget decisions, and one commissioner said they had hoped to phase down a $100,000 appropriation over time but ultimately voted to approve the budget.
Next steps: staff will return with final year-end figures in March or April and provide more detailed breakdowns of the enterprise fund accounts for water and stormwater when available.
