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Woodstock presents proposed $104M FY2027 budget with 4% water and stormwater rate increases
Summary
Finance staff presented the first FY2027 proposed operating budget totaling $104 million citywide, including a 4% water and stormwater rate increase, a 1% COLA, use of $1.8M in health-insurance reserves, $75,000 for ARCTIC regional participation and continuation of Parks GO bond projects; council will vote after two more presentations.
Crystal Welch presented the City of Woodstock's proposed FY2027 operating budget on May 11, describing an overall citywide package of approximately $104,000,000 and a proposed general fund of about $34.3 million.
Welch said all funds were balanced as presented, and highlighted key assumptions: property-tax revenue projections based on 2.5% new-construction growth, a 1% cost-of-living adjustment included in personnel budgets, and the decision to use about $1.8 million of health insurance fund reserves to moderate employer allocations for FY27. She also said the budget includes a 4% water rate increase and a 4% stormwater rate increase, both proposed to take effect July 1.
The FY27 proposal includes funding for capital projects tied to bonds and multi-year programs: continuation of Little River Park phases and the Buckhead Crossing boardwalk (Parks GO bond), two new fire stations funded by a URA bond issued in December 2025, transit and transportation funding from T-SPLOST (first full year of collections), and SPLOST-funded projects such as sidewalk and trail work, Noonday Creek Trail extension and road projects including Neese Road northern segment and Towne Lake Parkway widening.
Welch called out a $75,000 inclusion for the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Real-Time Intelligence Center (ARCTIC) participation and contributions to regional economic development and the Sequoia Regional Library System. She also explained capital transfers to debt service and a mix of reserve uses tied to fire-station staffing and capital timing.
Mayor Michael Caldwell thanked staff for the work producing a fiscally conservative yet investment-focused budget and reminded the council this was the first of three presentations; the first vote on the budget is scheduled for the following meeting after additional presentation and review.
The presentation generated questions about personnel reclassifications, timing of reclassifications to match new fire stations, and the split of debt-service payments between general fund and SPLOST for certain capital items. No budget votes were taken at the May 11 meeting; council will receive two more budget presentations and vote on the FY2027 budget in subsequent meetings.
