South Fulton unveils proposed FY2026 budget, highlights $96 million bond for new police and fire facilities

City Manager Sharon D. Subadan presented the City of South Fulton’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at a public hearing, telling the council the $431,000,000 plan includes no change to the millage rate and incorporates $96,000,000 in bond proceeds earmarked for new police and fire headquarters and a training facility.

"This is the most important policy decision that you will make as a council in a year," City Manager Sharon D. Subadan said at the Aug. 1 hearing, urging councilmembers to consider how "today's choices shape tomorrow's impact." The proposal also includes a $196,000,000 general fund and $191,000,000 in capital funds, Subadan said.

Why it matters: The budget uses one-time bond proceeds to pay for large capital projects, shifting the near-term capital burden away from recurring revenue. Council members pressed staff for details on project timing, funding offsets and the budget's allocations to events, parks and street lighting — all items that affect when and how residents will see work completed.

Key numbers and revenue mix
Althea Phillip Bradley, the city's chief financial officer, said the general fund totals about $196 million, a roughly 2.2% increase over the amended FY2025 figure. Bradley told council the city’s three largest citywide revenue sources are bond proceeds (22% of revenues for FY2026 and nonrecurring), budgeted use of reserves (roughly 18%) and property tax (the city's largest recurring revenue source).

Bradley said the capital projects category shows the greatest growth — primarily driven by the public-safety facilities — and that special revenue funds are down largely because the school-zone traffic camera fund has been drawn down.

Spending priorities and labor items
The proposed budget includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for the fire department (pending ratification of negotiations), a merit increase tied to employees’ anniversary dates and changes intended to temper an anticipated health-insurance cost increase. "I am very optimistic that we're gonna be moving in a direction that does not force us into a large increase around health insurance," Subadan said.

Public-safety capital remains the largest single programmatic commitment; Bradley said roughly $96.3 million of capital-project funds are dedicated to the new police and fire facilities in year one, and the city has budgeted the initial bond interest payment that would be due if the council moves forward with borrowing.

Parks, facilities and other projects
Subadan and Bradley outlined a five-year capital plan estimated at about $346 million, with year‑one projects including municipal court build‑out, initial work on the Cedar Grove Community Center, sidewalks and drainage improvements, and maintenance allocations. The presentation lists planned funds for: a Miracle League field, park sensory playground equipment funded by CDBG, a senior home‑repair program, and $300,000 for food‑insecurity programs.

Council members asked detailed questions about project scopes and timing — including turf for Sandtown fields, tennis‑court repairs at Welcome (the manager said courts were not included in that project unless the council directed otherwise), and restroom and kitchen work at Burdett Park — and the manager said she could incorporate specific items if the council so directed.

Lighting, cameras and traffic calming
Council members pressed staff about a master lighting plan and about using solar or off‑grid technologies where underground electrical infrastructure is missing. Subadan said the city is pursuing a pragmatic "low hanging fruit" approach: prioritizing streets with existing poles and infrastructure and working with Georgia Power and Greystone to bring lights online where feasible, while also testing solar lighting in parks. She also said the city is continuing a phased camera rollout (including Flock cameras tied to the real‑time crime center).

Events and outside‑agency funding
Several council members raised questions about funding for festivals and outside agencies. Councilwoman Helen Zenobia Willis asked for more detailed budgets for hotel-motel/CVB spending and said she wanted line‑item information rather than summaries. Mayor Pro Tem Linda Becker Pritchett defended the Azuka Music Fest as an inclusive cultural event and said criticism of funding that event was offensive to some council members; "Hispanic people are black, white, Indian, all kind of shades, races involved in a culture," Pritchett said.

Public participation and next steps
No speaker cards were submitted for this morning session, the city clerk reported. A resident who later addressed the council, Ivory Denson, said the morning hearing time excluded many working residents: "Ten o'clock in the morning is a hell of a time to be having a meeting for people who work," Denson said, and urged the council to schedule hearings when more residents can attend.

The council was given two more budget hearing opportunities: an evening public hearing scheduled for the same day and a final budget adoption meeting set for Sept. 9 at 7 p.m., Subadan said. Staff told councilmembers they will provide additional detail on outside‑agency budgets, the status of easement negotiations related to the proposed Welcome Center in East Point, and more granular project timetables before the adoption vote.

No formal motions or votes on the budget occurred during this public hearing.

What to watch next: staff briefings on project timelines and the bond schedule, further detail on outside‑agency funding and park/turf cost estimates ahead of final adoption on Sept. 9.