Clayton County CFO presents balanced FY2027 budget, proposes fire-fund millage adjustment as public safety debate continues

The Clayton County Board of Commissioners on June 9 heard a proposed fiscal year 2027 budget that county Finance Director Jackson described as "balanced, fiscally responsible, and positions Clayton County for continued success." The plan, as presented, includes a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for all county employees and a proposed increase to the fire fund millage intended to add firefighters, supervisors, sign-on incentives and roughly $1.88 million for apparatus and equipment.

The presentation laid out the county's financial position: through April 30, 2026, revenues exceeded expenditures by about $26.2 million and the general fund balance was $90.9 million as of June 30, 2025. Jackson said Resolution 2025-53 requires general fund reserves equal to four to six months of operating expenses—roughly $111 million by his estimate—meaning current reserves are below the stated target. The proposed FY2027 general fund totals approximately $347.66 million, about a 4% increase over the adopted FY2026 budget, with property taxes still the largest revenue source at roughly $219.66 million.

Jackson highlighted state-level changes that could affect local revenue, noting that on May 11, 2026 Governor Brian Kemp signed the Home Ownership Opportunity and Market Equalization Act (House Bill 33), commonly called the Home Act. He said the law limits assessed-value growth on homestead residential properties and is expected to slow future digest growth, putting more emphasis on operational efficiency and commercial tax-base growth.

The budget presentation broke down major allocations: courts and law enforcement combined account for roughly $128.7 million, general government about $107 million, and public safety approximately $69.3 million. Jackson called out proposed strategic investments: the 2% COLA (about $4.1 million), $830,000 for a technology refresh, and about $2.44 million in one-time capital projects including facility and land improvements.

On public safety financing, the CFO said the fire fund millage adjustment—described in the presentation as moving from 4.146 mills to what the presenter referred to as "450 mills"—would allow additional hiring, recruitment signing initiatives, a 2% salary adjustment for fire personnel, and equipment investments. (The transcript reflects a numeric inconsistency in the presenter’s phrasing about the fire-fund millage; the presentation made clear the intent is a modest millage adjustment to fund those items.)

Board members questioned whether similar targeted incentives for police were included. Jackson clarified that the base budget as presented includes a 2% COLA for all employees but that the sign-on bonus described in the presentation applies to the fire fund; any additional pay changes for police or other departments would need to be made via formal budget amendments. Jackson told the board that amendments are due by June 11 and that staff had begun drafting potential amendments and could provide specific cost figures to the board promptly.

Members of the public who spoke during the hearing urged the board to consider court capacity and funding as part of public-safety planning. Dr. Henry Anderson (District 3 resident) urged the board to systematically track amendments and to provide precise numbers when directing departments; he said he will present specific figures on juvenile court appointed-attorney costs at the next meeting. Solicitor General Charles Brooks said the courts-and-law-enforcement allocation of about $128.7 million provides roughly $3.6 million (about 2.8%) to his office and reported receiving no budgeted funds for required witness fees; he requested a meeting with CFO Jackson to file amendment requests before the June 11 deadline.

Resident Mickey Garber said court backlogs and processing delays create pressure on the jail and urged investment in courts and defender resources. Fire Chief Tim Swat, who identified himself as a 57-year veteran and the fire chief, thanked the board for the 2% COLA but said entry pay for recruits (quoted at about $51,992) would rise only modestly with a 2% increase and still lag neighboring jurisdictions; he urged additional measures to recruit and retain personnel, saying, "These are the men and women who never go home." Another resident questioned a proposed $140,000 expenditure tied to FIFA events and asked, "What is the amount of return you're going to get on your investment?" The chair and staff responded that some federal funds expected in support of FIFA activities had not yet been transmitted and that staff had been coordinating with regional partners.

The public hearing portion closed after multiple speakers and the board did not take a final vote on the FY2027 budget during the June 9 hearing. Commissioners made a motion to adjourn, the motion was seconded, and the board voted to adjourn at 8:33 p.m. Any additions to the budget (including targeted pay or recruitment incentives for police or other departments) must be submitted as formal amendments by the stated June 11 deadline and will return to the board for consideration.