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Braselton Mayor and Council receive balanced FY2027 budget with 3% cost-of-living increase
Summary
Town Manager Ron Bennett presented a recommended Fiscal Year 2027 budget June 1, 2026, saying it is balanced without transfers and includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and new in-house marketing and operations positions. Councilmembers praised staff and the public hearing closed with no comments.
Braselton Mayor and Council held a public hearing June 1, 2026, on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget that Town Manager Ron Bennett described as balanced without transfers and containing a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for staff.
Bennett led a short presentation of the recommended operating and capital budget. He summarized the General Fund operating plan, called out new staff positions, and repeated that the budget as presented did not rely on transfers to subsidize project costs. Bennett also described changes across department funds: the Tourism Budget shifts marketing work in-house with new social media and marketing positions and eliminates outsourced marketing contracts; the Urban Redevelopment Authority budget had corrections to rental revenue estimates; SPLOST was presented with a budgeted surplus; the Water and Sewer fund shows a budgeted surplus but Bennett cautioned that ongoing projects could change that projection; the Civic Center was presented as balanced; and the Stormwater Fund includes professional services to complete planned projects.
Mayor Kurt Ward closed the public hearing at 5:16 p.m. after noting there were no public comments. Councilmembers offered unanimous praise for staff work. Councilmember James Murphy said, “staff had done a great job bringing clarity to the budget and budget book.” Councilmember Richard Harper called the presentation’s level of detail “exceptional,” Councilmember Becky Richardson described the budget book as “exceptional” and “a great effort,” and Councilmember Tom Logan said the presentation was “very well stated.” Ward thanked staff and said he was proud of the presentation and appreciative of the work in bringing the document forward.
Procedural action closing the meeting came at 5:22 p.m., when Mayor Ward moved to adjourn; Councilmember Tom Logan seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
The hearing on the FY2027 budget provided a staff-led overview and comment period; no public testimony was offered during the hearing, and the council did not take any additional votes on budget ordinances during the session.
