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Fayette County commissioners advance FY2027 budget, approve payroll and budget amendments
Summary
At its June 11 meeting the Fayette County Board of Commissioners held the first FY2027 budget hearing, approved several amendments — including removing judicial payroll positions, a $12,863 Griffin Circuit allocation increase, a $112,819 insurance savings allocation and a 5% pay increase for certain elected officials — and directed staff to prepare options on commissioner compensation; a second hearing is June 25.
The Fayette County Board of Commissioners held the first public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget on June 11, 2026, and approved several budget amendments and related agreements that county staff said should be incorporated before final adoption.
Chief Financial Officer Sheryl Weinmann told the board the county’s projected total fund balance is $30.8 million and that the figure includes next year’s CIP, emergency reserves and the Stabilization Fund. Weinmann said the board needed to act on several amendments for them to be part of the FY2027 proposal.
Among the approved changes, the board voted to remove certain Griffin Judicial Circuit positions from Fayette County payroll after the Circuit’s payroll transitioned to a third party. Vice Chairman Edward Gibbons moved to remove seven Superior Court positions and one Juvenile Court administrative assistant from the county payroll; Commissioner Charles W. Oddo seconded and the motion passed 5-0.
Weinmann also reported updated cost allocations among counties in the Griffin Judicial Circuit that increased Fayette County’s superior court allocation by about $36,000 and reduced juvenile court costs by about $23,000, producing a net county increase of $12,863. The board approved that $12,863 increase by voice vote 5-0.
The county received a lower-than-expected property and casualty insurance renewal for FY2027. Weinmann said the final renewal totaled $924,008 — about $112,819 less than the earlier estimate of $1.036 million — producing savings allocated across funds and an approximate $76,000 reduction to the general fund expenditure budget. The board approved the $112,819 decrease 5-0.
On compensation matters, Weinmann presented a table showing a proposed 5% salary increase for outlined elected officials and constitutional officers, effective July 1 if adopted; staff estimated the total cost at roughly $64,000 including FICA and Medicare. The board approved that 5% increase by a 5-0 vote.
Separately, the board discussed potential changes to commissioner compensation. County Attorney Dennis A. Davenport explained two legal routes: a statutory process that is constrained in an election year and would likely delay effective changes until as late as 2029, or pursuing a local act through the General Assembly, which could set its own effective date. Commissioner Charles D. Rousseau moved and Chairman Lee Hearn seconded a motion directing staff to prepare specific compensation options for commissioners for the next public hearing; the motion passed 3-2, with Vice Chairman Gibbons and Commissioner Eric K. Maxwell voting in opposition.
Weinmann summarized other budget highlights: the millage rate would remain at 3.763; the proposed budget would increase the general fund balance by approximately $547,154; and the county would fund a five-year Capital Improvement Program totaling about $3,931,434 while maintaining employee benefits. The board scheduled the second public hearing and adoption for June 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
During public comment, Mrs. Alice Jones of Fayetteville praised the CFO’s briefing and raised concerns about data centers, tax abatements, long transmission power lines and their effects on water quality and property values. Jones urged county leaders to appeal to the State of Georgia for a moratorium on eminent domain related to transmission lines and also called for improved staff representation in licensing and tax offices.
Votes at a glance
• Motion to remove seven Superior Court positions and one Juvenile Court administrative assistant from Fayette County payroll — mover: Edward Gibbons; second: Charles W. Oddo; outcome: approved 5-0 (SEG 013).
• Approval of $12,863 net increase in Griffin Judicial Circuit allocation — mover: Edward Gibbons; second: Charles W. Oddo; outcome: approved 5-0 (SEG 013–014).
• Approval of $112,819 decrease to property & casualty insurance budget following renewal — mover: Edward Gibbons; second: Charles W. Oddo; outcome: approved 5-0 (SEG 013).
• Approval of 5% increase for outlined elected officials and constitutional officers (estimated $64,000 including payroll taxes) — mover: Edward Gibbons; second: Charles W. Oddo; outcome: approved 5-0 (SEG 022).
• Direction to staff to prepare commissioner compensation options for next public hearing — mover: Charles D. Rousseau; second: Lee Hearn; outcome: approved 3-2 (Gibbons, Maxwell opposed) (SEG 026).
What’s next
The Board will hold the second public hearing and consider final adoption of the FY2027 budget on June 25, 2026. Staff said they will circulate commissioner compensation options ahead of that meeting, and the Griffin Circuit cost allocations will be implemented consistent with the intergovernmental funding agreement approved separately during the meeting.
