Commission trims draft budget items, approves amendments and reappointments; splash pad update set

County Manager Thomas Weaver led budget discussions at work sessions on May 14 and May 28, proposing reductions and line-item corrections intended to bring the draft fiscal 2025 budget into balance without using reserves.

Weaver told commissioners during the May 14 session that contract services could be reduced by $15,000 and flagged solid-waste and revenue figures that needed correction. At the May 28 session he reviewed salary supplements and recommended moving some maintenance-upgrade items to SPLOST or the capital budget rather than routine building maintenance.

Commissioners approved two immediate budget amendments on May 28: one to fund sheriff's housing of prisoners and a second for E-911 resilient/mapping services. The commission also voted to place items such as the Arista insurance renewal, the Georgia Forestry annual agreement and reappointments for county representation on the June 4 regular meeting agenda.

Weaver also provided operational updates: a near-shutoff notice for a neighboring mobile-home park that faces a large unpaid balance (he said a deposit was expected), and that the county splash pad construction was on schedule to open. Road maintenance work under LMIG and a Barge sewer grant were discussed and staff were asked to follow up on next steps.

Provenance: Budget work sessions, line-item proposals and the approved amendments are recorded in SEG 016–SEG 019 and SEG 020–SEG 022.

What’s next: County staff will finalize budget changes, document use of SPLOST/capital where appropriate, and monitor the two approved amendments. The commission scheduled related items for formal action at the June 4 meeting.