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Cusseta–Chattahoochee Commission adopts FY2025 budget, will draw on reserves to close shortfall
Summary
After two public hearings, the Board of Commissioners on June 24 approved the FY2025 budget; County Manager Thomas Weaver said the shortfall was reduced from about $2 million to roughly $198,000 and commissioners indicated they will use reserve funds rather than make further immediate cuts.
The Board of Commissioners of the Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County voted unanimously on June 24 to adopt the fiscal year 2025 operating and capital budget after two public hearings and several work sessions.
County Manager Thomas Weaver told the Commission at the June 4 hearing that the county initially faced a roughly $2,000,000 gap between proposed spending and projected revenue. After line-item adjustments and additional cuts, he said the shortfall fell to about $621,000 and later to approximately $198,000. "It will take some time and effort to get it balanced, and it will need some more changes that will probably not make a lot of people not happy, but at some point, you got to snatch that band aid off and get it done," Weaver said during public comment at the June 4 hearing.
Chairman Charles Coffey said the choices to close any remaining deficit are limited. "If we are going to have to start going into the reserve to balance the budget there are two fixes to it, either cutting expenses or raising taxes," Coffey said, and added that department heads must be prepared to explain any requests for future amendments to the budget.
Commissioners emphasized areas for review, including public safety and the county's new EMS program, both cited by Coffey as significant cost centers. Commissioner Jason Frost suggested creative staffing solutions, such as a shared "floater" position to support multiple offices.
A resident, David Smith, spoke at the June 4 hearing, saying the county should seek more federal support; Weaver responded that the water system is self-funded and noted intergovernmental service agreement (IGSA) figures he had provided to the Commission.
Motion and vote: Commissioner Timothy Biddle moved to approve and adopt the FY2025 budget; Commissioner Gerald Douglas seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The Commission recorded that the public hearings were held on June 4 and June 24 and that the board approved the budget at the called June 24 meeting.
What happens next: Commissioners and staff said they will monitor departmental spending and require departments or constitutional officers to appear before the board to justify any amendments that would exceed their approved allocations. The county manager expects to present a balanced budget next fiscal year without further reserve draws.
The board adjourned the called meeting following the vote.
