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Cusseta‑Chattahoochee approves $294,725 in budget amendments as commissioners confront a $740,000 shortfall
Summary
The Board of Commissioners unanimously approved budget amendments totaling $294,725 and scheduled additional budget hearings as county leaders wrestled with an estimated $740,000 FY2024 deficit, discussed possible tax‑rate changes and said a pending state bill (HB 581) could help future revenues but not immediately.
The Unified Government of Cusseta‑Chattahoochee County unanimously approved several budget amendments totaling $294,725 at its April meetings while commissioners and staff outlined a roughly $740,000 gap in the FY2024 budget.
County Manager Thomas Weaver told the board at the April 1 public hearing that the county was “starting at a $740,000.00 deficit,” citing rising personnel and operating costs even as new SPLOST receipts and ambulance revenue — which Weaver said has brought in more than $130,000 since service startup — help narrow the shortfall.
The amendments approved by motion included transfers to cover property‑tax reimbursement ($6,000), a coroner salary correction ($30,000), legal expenses ($150,000), EMS salaries ($275,000) and boarding of prisoners ($200,000); the minutes list a combined amendment figure of $294,725. Commissioners voted unanimously on the proclamation and the amendments. Commissioner Jason Frost moved and Commissioner Timothy Biddle seconded the motion to approve the Donate Life proclamation; similar unanimous motions approved the calendar for budget hearings and a tax refund for Tracy Chiodo.
At an April 14 hearing — held without a quorum for votes but on the record — Superior Court Clerk Tami Wade asked the board for $15,000 to fund a part‑time staffer and about $10,000 in mandated software upgrades. Wade said the office historically operated with more staff and told commissioners she ‘‘cannot wait a year’’ for relief tied to possible future revenues. Chairman Charles Coffey and other commissioners responded that the board must weigh requests across departments and noted any tax‑rate increase or new revenue source would require public approval. Commissioner Jason Frost told colleagues they should "start putting the wheels in motion" for a possible tax increase if other revenue sources do not materialize.
Weaver said some capital requests — notably sheriff vehicle needs — could be covered by SPLOST rather than the general fund, and recommended drawing clearer lines on what can be deferred versus essential operating expenses. The manager also recommended the commission consider a modest increase in trash collection fees (a $2 monthly increase was discussed) to offset rising solid‑waste costs.
The minutes record an approved tax refund for Tracy Chiodo; the commission minutes list the county’s share as $12.31. (The assessor’s written materials in the record contain slightly different totals for the refund; that discrepancy is noted in the meeting exhibits.)
Next steps: commissioners directed staff to bring a revised budget with recommended cuts and proposed revenue scenarios to the next meeting; they also asked the manager to itemize contracts and miscellaneous line items so elected officials can see where reductions are feasible. The board held a work session April 28 for follow‑up discussion and operational updates, and the county manager said any sales‑tax change under state bill HB 581 would take time to produce local revenue even if approved.
