Cusseta–Chattahoochee County confronts $740,000 budget shortfall; commissioners consider millage increase and approve $294,725 in amendments

Cusseta–Chattahoochee County commissioners approved a package of budget adjustments at their April meetings and spent subsequent public hearings laying out options to close an estimated $740,000 shortfall in the FY2024/2025 budget.

County Manager Thomas Weaver told the board in the first public hearing that departmental requests as submitted leave the county at “a $740,000.00 deficit and we need to get it down to be balanced.” Weaver said revenue from the county’s recent SPLOST and new ambulance receipts ("the ambulance since we started has brought in over $130,000.00") help, but won’t eliminate the gap.

At the April 1 regular meeting the commission voted unanimously to adopt a set of budget amendments summarized in the meeting packet as totaling $294,725. The packet and supporting resolutions allocate transfers from reserve to operating lines for multiple items, including a listed property tax reimbursement transfer ($6,000), coroner salary ($30,000), legal expenses/general administrative ($150,000), EMS salary funding (listed in packet material), and boarding-of-prisoners costs. The meeting materials list a consolidated “Total Amendment: $294,725.”

Why it matters: commissioners said the county has limited short‑term options. Multiple elected officials asked for new or restored staffing and equipment; the board must either increase revenue, reduce services or use reserves.

Requests and debate Superior Court Clerk Tami Wade urged the commission to approve a part‑time staff position and software. Wade said her office historically had three staffers and that on court days she needs additional in‑office coverage: “by law I must keep my office open from 9–5,” she said, adding a part‑time hire “for court days” and a $10,000 software purchase were necessary to meet statutory and operational requirements. Commissioners pressed on funding sources and whether the county could accommodate new recurring personnel costs when the overall budget is in deficit.

Chairman Charles Coffey and other commissioners said they sympathize with elected officials’ needs but stressed fiscal limits. Coffey told Wade and the room that the board is accountable for balancing the budget and cannot commit to recurring hires without revenue, and said — by way of illustrating the challenge — he’d be willing to forgo a portion of his own pay if constitutional officers would do likewise.

Revenue and options discussed County leaders discussed several levers to close the gap: use of reserve funds (already being moved in targeted transfers approved in April), SPLOST capital availability for some vehicle purchases, modest fee increases and a potential increase in the property tax millage. Commissioner Jason Frost urged the board to prepare for a rate increase if necessary, noting multi‑year reserve draws are not sustainable. County staff said a small mileage (millage) increase would not fully close the shortfall and that larger changes would be required; Weaver estimated that every one mill of property tax would bring roughly $50,000–$60,000 in revenue, so covering the entire gap would require multiple mills if no spending cuts were made.

Other changes discussed included a proposed $2 monthly increase in the county trash fee (from $20 to $22) to help solid waste operations and using SPLOST for certain capital equipment requests, such as sheriff vehicles or public works equipment.

What the board approved and next steps The board unanimously approved the budget amendments as one motion in the April 1 meeting and continued three public hearings through April and a work session on April 28 to gather more detail. County staff will prepare a revised budget with proposed cuts and revenue scenarios, including a millage‑rate option for commissioners to consider. Commissioners said HB 581 was mentioned as a possible future relief mechanism, but any benefits from that legislation would not be realized in time for the coming fiscal year.

Clarifying notes and unresolved items - Tax refund: the agenda motion approved a tax refund request related to Parcel C05 0001 for the owner listed as Tracy (Chiodo/Chiodo), and the Board of Assessors’ letter lists a total refund amount of $38.38 for the corrected period; meeting materials contain small inconsistencies in rounding and county/school shares. The commission approved the refund motion unanimously. - Several budget line items and the packet show amounts and “needed/actual” numbers that are not fully reconciled in the minutes; staff promised a consolidated report with final, reconciled figures and proposed cuts for the next meeting.

The commission said it will present a draft of specific spending cuts and revenue options at an upcoming meeting; any change in the property tax millage would require public notice and follow state law procedures before adoption.