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Chamblee presents flat $35.9M FY2026 general fund budget; council hears proposed sanitation fee increases
Summary
Budget staff proposed a flat FY2026 general fund of $35.9 million, highlighted bond-funded park projects and investments in a real-time crime center; Public Works recommended phased residential and commercial sanitation fee increases to address an ongoing enterprise fund deficit.
City budget staff presented the proposed FY2026 budget at the Dec. 11 Chamblee work session and outlined key investments and assumptions.
Daria Chrysikus, Budget and Strategy Manager, summarized the proposed budget as a flat general fund at $35,900,000, based on a planning assumption of a 6.25‑mill rate for tax projections. The budget includes continued investment in renewable energy infrastructure, technology for the soon-to-open real-time crime center and an economic development strategic assessment in partnership with Georgia Tech. Chrysikus said the city issued a $30,000,000 park general obligation bond earlier in the year; bond funds are intended for multiple park and trail projects, including Huntley Hills Park, Nancy Creek West and Broad Street streetscape work.
On enterprise funds, staff highlighted stormwater work ($1.5 million for repairs and assessments) and noted the sanitation enterprise fund’s structural deficit. Todd Hill, Director of Public Works, said the sanitation fund has been subsidized by the general fund by ‘‘over $1,000,000 every year’’ and proposed moving toward a self‑sustaining fee structure. Hill described a multi‑year plan to raise residential sanitation fees (discussed in the presentation in the range toward $485–$495 as an end target) with phased increases; he also proposed a commercial base fee of $360 per year for one cart with $8 per month ($96/year) for each additional cart. Council members asked logistical questions about cart limits and whether recycling carts were included.
Chrysikus and councilors also highlighted allocations for rail‑trail projects (rideable acquisition funding and a rail‑trail segment), the Chamblee Safety Action Plan (about 80% grant‑funded with a 20% local match), and funding to maintain policing and downtown maintenance in the special service district.
Council asked budget and public‑works staff clarifying questions; no final budget adoption occurred during the work session — formal adoption remains a future meeting action.
