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Fayette County adopts FY2027 budget, approves commissioner pay increase and board rate raises
Summary
Fayette County commissioners adopted the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, approved a $2,500 base pay increase for commissioners to be advanced to the legislative delegation, authorized modest pay adjustments for county boards, and approved a Cooperative Extension funding increase.
Fayette County’s Board of Commissioners voted June 25 to adopt the Fiscal Year 2027 budget and approved related compensation items after a public hearing and staff presentations.
Chief Financial Officer Sheryl Weinmann told the Board the county’s projected FY2026 fund balance was $30.89 million and that proposed changes produced a positive net impact to the General Fund (about $482,000 as of June 11). Weinmann said the proposed budget increases the General Fund balance by $461,210 plus approximately $8,600 based on subsequent votes.
On compensation, the Board considered two options to increase the Board of Commissioners’ base pay and approved Option 1 — a $2,500 base increase — for inclusion in the county’s legislative package. County Administrator Steve Rapson explained an effective date of Jan. 1, 2027, would be necessary to allow the change to be included in the legislative package to the local delegation. Commissioners said the adjustment aims to help attract qualified future leaders after commissioners’ pay was uncoupled from Superior Court judges’ salaries by House Bill 85.
The Board also approved a 1.04% merit‑related increase for the county’s portion of the UGA Cooperative Extension contract (an estimated county portion increase of $1,916) and a 5% rate increase for members of appointed county boards (Board of Assessors, Board of Equalization, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Planning Commission), which staff estimated would have an annual fiscal impact of about $2,372.
Weinmann summarized other budget highlights: the millage rate remains at 3.763; the five‑year capital improvement program is funded at $3.93 million; the budget maintains current employee benefits and aims to balance current revenues with current year expenses.
The Board voted to adopt the FY2027 budget and approve Resolution 2026‑13.
