BZA director warns of falling revenues, high transcript costs as council moves budget items to executive session

Director Ray Brown, director of the Board of Zoning Appeals, told city council members on March 13 that the BZA’s proposed fiscal‑year 2027 budget reflects lower revenues, a leaner staffing model and continuing pressure from court‑reporter costs.

"Our total expenditures are $57,808. Our total revenues are $53,040. Net tax costs are $518,768," Brown said during his presentation, which also noted the office currently has three full‑time positions and that personnel and benefits make up roughly 71% of the budget. He said the department faces a roughly $112,000 reduction tied in part to the loss of one full‑time position and a mayoral freeze on position amendments announced January 14.

Brown tied the revenue declines to falling case volume: he gave annual case counts of 66 in 2023, 93 in 2024 and 42 in 2025, and said the department is currently at about 30–35 cases for the 2026 fiscal year to date. "We're trending down in terms of cases and that's where our revenue comes…