Mableton City council defers vote on FY2027 budget after residents warn against using reserves for ongoing costs

Mableton City Council voted on June 10 to defer consideration of the fiscal year 2027 budget to its next meeting on June 23 after residents and council members raised questions about staffing increases and the use of reserves.

Director Ellis presented the ordinance for a second and final reading and said there were no substantive changes since the May 27 presentation. Council members then questioned whether personnel requests had been fully reflected. Staff said two assistant positions requested by the mayor and council were filled using budgeted seasonal employees and that other requested positions were included where necessary for operations.

At the public hearing, resident Yashika Marshall urged the council to reject the budget as written, saying the proposal relies on one-time revenues to cover recurring costs and citing a structural gap she estimated at roughly $4.67–$4.8 million. Marshall told the council the staffing plan would increase headcount from "76 to 97," adding long-term pension and health liabilities, and recommended an immediate hiring freeze and deferment of nonessential capital projects so the city would preserve savings ahead of a potential municipal police department implementation.

Staff and finance officials responded that the budget uses $4.8 million of fund balance for one-time items — including a $3 million transfer to capital and pilot programs — and that the city would still retain about $7.5 million in reserve (roughly 37% of operations), above a 25% minimum required by ordinance. The finance explanation said the $4.8 million is not being used to fund recurring salaries or ongoing operating costs.

Other public commenters asked the council to pursue revenue initiatives and studies on housing and food access rather than expand back-office functions. Council members requested clearer line-item detail on which positions represent recurring operating costs and which are tied to new, revenue-generating or one-time projects.

The council moved to defer the vote to allow more review of the public feedback and to satisfy the council’s need to reconcile concerns with the legal obligation to adopt a budget by July 1. City staff advised the council that the body has one remaining regular meeting (June 23) before the July 1 deadline. The motion to defer passed by voice vote; the record shows the matter will return for consideration on June 23.

What’s next: The council is scheduled to consider the FY2027 adoption on June 23. Staff have said they will provide clarified breakdowns of recurring versus one-time expenditures and the specific staffing items funded by ongoing revenue sources.