Cusseta‑Chattahoochee commission trims budget line items, approves two amendments and readies RFPs

County Manager Thomas Weaver led budget work sessions in mid‑May to reduce contract services and revise several departmental line items as part of the county’s effort to balance the FY budget without drawing on reserves.

At a May 14 session Weaver said the manager’s office would “be reducing contract services by $15,000,” and noted elected officials’ salary lines and solid‑waste figures required correction. He told commissioners bid packets for solid‑waste services had been issued to about five companies.

Weaver told the board on May 28 that some maintenance expenses should be shifted to SPLOST or the capital budget rather than routine building maintenance. Commissioners instructed staff to continue trimming costs and avoid using reserves where possible.

On May 28 the commission voted unanimously to approve two budget amendments: one to the sheriff’s budget for housing of prisoners and one for E911 to pay for updated RysiLiant mapping (motion to amend the agenda and approve amendments made by Commissioner Coffey and seconded by Commissioner Frost; final approval moved by Commissioner Biddle and seconded by Commissioner Frost). The board also directed staff to include an insurance renewal and a Georgia Forestry agreement on the June 4 regular meeting agenda.

Other operational notes from the work sessions: the county’s splashpad is on schedule to open; an LMIG paving allocation of about $155,000 is expected; and staff continued work on sewer‑grant (Barge) documentation and a letter of intent.

What happens next: staff will prepare formal budget amendments and supporting documents for the June 4 meeting, pursue RFP responses for solid‑waste services, and continue to refine salary and maintenance lines for final budget adoption.