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Cusseta‑Chattahoochee adopts FY2025 budget after public hearings; reserve draw closes $198,000 gap
Summary
After two public hearings and months of line‑item cuts, the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the fiscal year 2025 budget on June 24, 2024, deciding to draw on reserves to cover an estimated $198,000 shortfall while directing departments to justify future amendment requests.
The Board of Commissioners of the Unified Government of Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County unanimously adopted the fiscal year 2025 operating and capital budget on June 24, 2024, following two public hearings and a called meeting.
County Manager Thomas Weaver told the board that when departments submitted budget requests earlier this year the county faced an initial shortfall of roughly $2 million. He said subsequent line‑item cuts and other adjustments reduced that figure first to about $1.4 million, then to $621,000, and finally to an estimated $198,000 ahead of the second hearing. "We started with a deficit of around $2,000,000…and now we are down to 198,000," Weaver said. He recommended the commission use reserve funds to balance the books rather than make rushed cuts he described as "not educated or not thought out."
Chairman Charles Coffey acknowledged additional savings the commission could pursue — he said he found roughly $300,000 in potential cuts, particularly in Public Safety and the new EMS budget — but emphasized transparency: officials must publicly explain and justify any future budget 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 told the room.
Commissioners discussed staffing ideas as well. Commissioner Jason Frost urged exploring a shared "floater" position to assist multiple offices and reduce overall payroll costs. Weaver said he plans to start the budget process earlier next year to avoid compressing most work into a 90‑day window.
Public comment included a brief remark from attendee David Smith, who suggested the federal government should provide more assistance to the county.
The commission formally adopted the budget in a called meeting the same day; the resolution covers the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025. The board recorded the vote as unanimous. County Manager Thomas Weaver attested the minutes, which show the adoption was approved in the board's July 2, 2024 regular meeting.
With the budget adopted, commissioners directed departmental leaders and constitutional officers to bring forward any requests for amendments with public explanations of the need, scope and funding source. Department heads who exceed their adopted appropriations must present formal amendment requests to the board for approval.
