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Cusseta–Chattahoochee commissioners confront roughly $740,000 budget gap; millage, fees and SPLOST debated
Summary
County officials approved $294,725 in FY2024 budget amendments on April 1 while public hearings in April highlighted a roughly $740,000 deficit; commissioners discussed raising the property tax millage and small fee increases, and postponed final cuts pending revenue updates including SPLOST and HB581.
Cusseta–Chattahoochee County commissioners approved several FY2024 budget amendment resolutions on April 1 while flagging a multi‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar shortfall that they said will require further action.
The commission voted unanimously to move reserve funds into operating accounts — including transfers for EMS salaries, legal expenses and coroner pay — that together matched the meeting materials’ aggregate amendment figure of $294,725. County Manager Thomas Weaver told commissioners at the April 1 public hearing that the county currently faces “about a $740,000” deficit in the proposed budget and that department requests will have to be trimmed to balance the books.
Why it matters: Weaver said revenue is trending stronger than some recent years, driven in part by new SPLOST receipts and roughly $130,000 in ambulance collections since service startup, but he warned those sources alone do not erase the deficit. Commissioners discussed three broad options: raise the property‑tax millage, reduce spending, or rely on incremental SPLOST and state changes (HB581) that would not produce immediate revenue.
Commissioners recorded specific actions on April 1: motions to adopt a set of budget amendments (motion by Commissioner Biddle; second by Commissioner Frost) passed unanimously. The adopted resolutions listed transfers for property tax reimbursement ($6,000), coroner salary ($30,000), legal expenses ($150,000), EMS salaries ($275,000) and boarding of prisoners ($200,000); meeting materials summarized those and other line‑item adjustments under a total amendment amount of $294,725.
A continuing debate over staffing and essential services surfaced in public hearings through April. Superior Court Clerk Tami Wade urged the commission on April 14 for a part‑time position and new court software that she said were necessary for day‑to‑day operations. Wade told the commission she “cannot wait a year” for relief and described constraints that limit her ability to borrow staff from other offices. Chairman Charles Coffey responded that the commission must weigh every elected official’s request against countywide fiscal limits.
Several commissioners said the county has largely exhausted nonessential cuts. Commissioner Jason Frost said raising taxes may be unavoidable to maintain services and staffing levels. Chairman Coffey suggested a public conversation about the millage and said he would consider personal concessions to help the county balance, noting the board cannot exceed available funds.
Other measures discussed: County staff proposed shifting some capital outlay items to SPLOST funds (sheriff vehicle, certain fire station repairs) and recommended a $2 monthly increase in residential trash collection (from $20 to $22) to help cover rising solid‑waste costs. Commissioners asked staff to return with detailed cut proposals and a recommended mileage‑rate option for consideration at future meetings.
Next steps: Commissioners said they will continue budget work sessions and incorporate public feedback; any change to the millage rate would require formal publication and voter notice under state law. Weaver and staff were asked to produce a revised budget with recommended cuts and possible tax‑rate scenarios for the next meeting.
Budget actions recorded in the minutes and meeting materials, and the public‑hearing exchanges that followed, remain the official record of the commission’s decisions.
