Cusseta‑Chattahoochee officials say FY2024 budget faces roughly $740,000 shortfall; public hearings consider cuts, millage and fee options

County Manager Thomas Weaver told the Commission at the April 1 public hearing that the county was "starting at a $740,000.00 deficit and we need to get it down to be balanced." The presentation noted that new SPLOST receipts and an ambulance service that has generated more than $130,000 since startup improve revenue but are not sufficient to close the gap.

Several elected officials and department heads reviewed line items and capital requests during follow‑up hearings and work sessions. Superior Court Clerk Tami Wade asked for about $15,000 for a part‑time staffer and $10,000 for software to maintain required office hours; Wade said her office historically operated with three staff and "she just needs the additional staff for court days." Chairman Charles Coffey and other commissioners warned that approving selective staffing requests without offsetting cuts or additional revenue would widen the deficit and that any staffing increases would require either cuts elsewhere or a higher millage rate.

Commissioners discussed near‑term options the county manager flagged: moving eligible capital items to SPLOST, reducing discretionary or contracted services line items, or increasing the millage. The county manager said some capital requests (for example, sheriff vehicles) could be funded from SPLOST. He also recommended placing a proposed $2 monthly trash‑rate increase on a future work session agenda; the increase would raise the monthly trash fee from $20 to $22. No final decision on a millage change or trash‑rate increase was made at these hearings. The commission directed staff to produce a revised budget showing recommended cuts and the financial impact of revenue options for a subsequent meeting.