Cusseta–Chattahoochee Commission adopts FY2025 budget, taps reserves to cover remaining gap

The Commission of the Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County adopted the fiscal year 2025 budget on June 24, 2024, voting unanimously to use the county’s reserve account to close a remaining shortfall.

County Manager Thomas Weaver told the board during two public hearings that initial department budget requests left the proposed budget roughly $2,000,000 short of projected revenue. Line‑item reductions brought that figure down in stages — first to about $1.4 million, then to $621,000 — and further adjustments reduced the deficit to approximately $198,000 when the budget was presented for adoption. Weaver said projected revenues for the coming year are “just shy of $5 million,” while projected expenses were $5,153,475.

“Either cut expenses or raise taxes,” Chairman Charles Coffey told residents during the June 4 hearing, urging transparency from departments and warning that drawing on reserves would require fiscal choices. “If after we put our heads together and look at these other departments and the County Manager still says we would need to come out of the reserve he will respect that too, but when these departments need an amendment, they need to start coming and asking and explaining why they need one,” Coffey said.

Weaver said he did not want to make further cuts immediately without a full, data‑driven review and recommended using reserves now to avoid precipitous reductions that could impair county services. Commissioners asked departments to present any amendment requests publicly with explanations of need and impact before funds are released.

The budget hearings also included discussion of specific cost drivers. The chair and commissioners identified Public Safety and recently added EMS costs as areas with large line items; Coffey said he had located approximately $300,000 in potential reductions tied to several departments. Commissioner Jason Frost suggested cross‑training or a “floater” position to help relieve staffing pressures without adding full headcount.

Public comment was limited. David Smith, who signed in at the June 4 hearing, urged more federal support for local revenue shortfalls; the county manager noted that enterprise funds such as water are self‑supporting and not a general‑fund solution.

The board entered executive session on legal, personnel and litigation matters but reported no votes were taken during the closed session. Following public discussion, Commissioner Timothy Biddle moved to approve the FY2025 budget and Commissioner Gerald Douglas seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

Next steps and context: commissioners approved the budget at the called meeting on June 24, and the minutes record the formal adoption. County staff told the board they will continue work to fully balance future budgets and plan to begin budget development earlier in the annual cycle to avoid last‑minute shortfalls.