Atlantic Beach council adopts FY2025-26 budget on second reading

The Atlantic Beach Town Council on June 16 approved Ordinance Number 9-2025 on second reading, adopting the town's general fund budget for the fiscal year projecting $1.753 million in revenues and $1.753 million in expenditures.

Interim Town Manager Linda Cheatham presented the second reading of the proposed FY2025-26 budget and invited questions. "We are projecting revenues of 1.753 and expenditures of the same amount," Cheatham said. Council moved the item into a public hearing, heard one accounting question from a community member, and closed the hearing before voting.

The discussion also reviewed findings from the FY2024 draft audit. Cheatham said auditors found the financial statements and disclosures "neutral, consistent, and fair" and that there were "no major disagreements with management." She listed agreed corrective actions: reconciling account balances during the fiscal year; better tracking and allocation of grant expenditures (for example, distinguishing police, administrative and public works costs); and updating purchasing policies that have not been amended since 2002. Cheatham noted the FY2024 budget was $1.266 million while expenditures totaled about $1.4 million, driven in part by additional grant funds that were not added to the adopted revenue figures.

Councilman Edward Lamar Campbell moved the ordinance and Councilwoman Carla Taylor seconded. Roll-call votes by Councilman Campbell, Councilwoman Taylor and Mayor Pro Tem John David were all recorded in favor.

The town manager said she will send the auditors' management representation letter and the auditors will submit the finalized audit to the State Treasurer when the documentation is complete. The council did not disclose items from the meeting's earlier executive session.

The ordinance passed on second reading; the council did not identify additional amendments at the June 16 session.