Budget standoff continues in East Point; council fails to waive first reading but OKs up to $6M MCT transfer to shore up power fund

The East Point City Council spent significant floor time on July 6 arguing over the FY2027 budget's readiness and transparency, with multiple members saying they had not received a fully itemized document requested on June 15 and some alleging unexplained line‑item changes. Council member Atkins proposed a set of amendments intended to restore senior home repair match funding, reestablish education and training dollars, add funds for downtown stabilization and fire‑station renovations, and identify offsets elsewhere in the budget.

"We have not to date received any of that information as it relates to the FY‑27 budget," Council member Martin Rogers said on the record, urging that the city manager be held accountable for a directive to provide itemized expenses. Rogers also raised concerns about apparent salary, pension and workers‑compensation entries that he and others described as "illegal" or unexplained; the interim finance director responded that line items would be itemized but that preparing a fully revised budget book would take several weeks.

Council members debated whether to waive the first reading to act on the budget that night. A motion to waive failed on a roll call (several members voting 'no'), leaving the budget unresolved for the time being and prompting calls for a work session and additional itemization.

Separately, council considered a resolution to authorize temporary transfers from the Municipal Competitive Trust (MCT) into the power enterprise fund to address an identified imbalance in the electric fund. City staff and outside consultants had flagged a multi‑million dollar gap in power operations; staff recommended a stopgap MCT transfer while the city completes a rate study and a repayment strategy. After discussion, council amended the resolution and approved authorization "not to exceed $6,000,000" for FY2027 stabilization purposes.

City manager Redmond Jones and the interim finance director said the precise amount needed could shift as FY2026 is finally closed and as the FY2027 fiscal window changes; they characterized MCT use as a temporary measure that should be accompanied by a repayment strategy tied to a forthcoming rate study. "It's prudent and financially responsible to have a strategy to repay," the manager said; he recommended allowing staff to manage operational adjustments while council finalizes budget questions.

No final vote to adopt the FY2027 budget was recorded during the meeting; council members agreed to further debate, potential amendments and additional review in the coming days and at scheduled work sessions.