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Johns Creek council adopts $79 million FY2025 budget after debate over priorities and reserve levels
Summary
The Johns Creek City Council approved a balanced FY2025 budget totaling roughly $79 million, funding public safety positions, capital projects including Fire Station 63, and setting aside significant unassigned reserves amid debate over small community allocations.
The Johns Creek City Council voted to adopt the fiscal year 2025 budget on Sept. 9, approving a balanced spending plan the city described as totaling about $79.0 million in general fund revenues and expenditures.
Director Campbell, who presented the budget during a public hearing, told the council the proposal is “balanced” and highlighted major line items: five new police positions, two municipal court positions tied to insourcing probation services, $8.8 million in capital projects (including $7.3 million toward Fire Station 63/police substation), and transportation investments and vehicle replacements included in the plan. He said local option sales tax and property tax together account for about 65% of general fund revenue.
Council members used the required second public hearing to debate a series of last-minute allocation requests raised during the meeting, including a $2,500 line item for Student Leadership Johns Creek, $100,000 for permanent striping of a multi-use field in Cauley Creek, and a $4,800 car allowance matter for an office position. Several councilors said they supported the ideas in principle but urged formal memoranda of understanding (MOUs) or additional staff vetting before committing recurring funds. “We should have a framework in place before we put a dollar amount,” one councilor said during the discussion.
Campbell and others emphasized the council’s need to balance requests with a fund-balance floor tied to the city’s credit rating. Councilors referenced a previously discussed unassigned-fund-balance floor of about $19.5 million, noting the city’s AAA bond rating as a reason to maintain reserves. After extended debate, the council moved to adopt the ordinance to approve the FY2025 budget; the motion passed with a recorded tally of five in favor and two opposed.
Next steps: the adopted budget takes effect for the upcoming fiscal year as described in the ordinance; council members said staff would return with MOUs and more detailed proposals should the council decide to reallocate unassigned reserves to specific programs.
