Cusseta‑Chattahoochee Commission adopts FY2025 budget after narrowing deficit; says reserves may be used

The Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County voted June 24 to adopt the fiscal year 2025 operating and capital budget, after two public hearings and several budget work sessions.

County Manager Thomas Weaver told the board at the June 4 and June 24 hearings that the budget initially came in about $2,000,000 over projected revenue; after line‑item reductions and further adjustments the shortfall was reduced to roughly $621,000 and then to about $198,000. “If we make more cuts at this moment, it would be necessarily not educated or not thought out,” Weaver said, arguing the county should use its reserve account rather than make hasty reductions.

Chairman Charles Coffey said he had identified approximately $300,000 in possible cuts, primarily in public safety and EMS, but emphasized the board must hear department‑level explanations before approving amendments. “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, adding that commissioners and constitutional officers must be accountable for spending.

Commissioner Timothy Biddle moved to approve the FY2025 budget; Commissioner Gerald Douglas seconded. The called meeting vote to adopt the budget was recorded as unanimous among attending commissioners (Chairman Charles Coffey, Vice‑Chairman Timothy Biddle, Commissioner Gerald Douglas and Commissioner Damon Hoyte; Commissioner Jason Frost was noted absent). The board’s minutes state the budget document was later attested by County Manager Thomas Weaver.

The record shows projected revenue is just under $5 million and planned expenditures were reported at approximately $5,153,475. Weaver told commissioners he expects to have a balanced budget by the end of the fiscal year through continued adjustments and said departments that overspend will be required to present amendment requests and justifications publicly.

The board held two public hearings on the budget (June 4 and June 24). At the June 4 hearing local resident David Smith urged greater federal assistance; Weaver responded that water operations would be their own funding source.

Next steps: the board instructed departments and constitutional officers to explain any overages before the public and signaled that additional adjustments or revenue options may be necessary later in the fiscal year. The minutes reflect the Commission approved the budget documents and recorded the adoption in the board’s July 2, 2024 regular meeting records.