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Chattahoochee County commission approves $294,725 in FY2024 budget amendments
Summary
The Cusseta–Chattahoochee County commission on April 1 approved a package of FY2024 budget amendments totaling $294,725, moving reserve funds into operating accounts for EMS salaries, legal expenses, coroner pay and sheriff detention costs; motions passed unanimously.
Cusseta, Ga. — The Board of Commissioners of the Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County approved a set of FY2024 budget amendments totaling $294,725 at its regular meeting on April 1, 2025.
Commissioners voted unanimously to transfer reserves into operating lines to cover several shortfalls and priority needs. The approved resolutions moved $275,000 into EMS salaries, $150,000 into legal expenses, $200,000 into the sheriff’s boarding-of-prisoners line, $30,000 to the coroner’s salary account and $6,000 for a property-tax-reimbursement operating offset; staff presented the consolidated package as a single amendment totaling $294,725.
“These amendments will allow us to finish out the fiscal year without interrupting essential services,” County Manager Thomas Weaver said during the meeting. Weaver briefed commissioners that the transfers are authorized under O.C.G.A. § 36-81-3(d)(1) and stem from unanticipated demands on public-safety and legal budgets.
The motions to adopt the agenda items were made and seconded on the record: Commissioner Timothy Biddle moved and Commissioner Jason Frost seconded the motion for the overall agenda package; the board recorded unanimous approval. The commission also approved a National Donate Life Month proclamation and a small tax refund request tied to a Board of Assessors correction for parcel C05 0001; the assessors’ letter listed a 2023 county portion refund of $12.81 and a school portion of $25.57, for a combined refund of $38.38.
The amendments draw from reserve funds rather than new revenue. County staff noted some capital requests could instead be funded by SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) revenues where eligible. Several commissioners and staff reiterated the need to address structural budget gaps in upcoming budget hearings rather than rely repeatedly on reserves.
Next steps: commissioners directed staff to include the amendments and the underlying budget assumptions in follow-up budget hearings and work sessions scheduled in April, and to present options for balancing future budgets without repeated reserve draws.
