“Tough conversations” along with “clarity and honesty” will highlight discussions of the 2025 city budget, Augusta’s administrator told commissioners Tuesday.
Administrator Tameka Allen presented them a $1.4 billion budget that includes a $207 general fund and law enforcement budget, according to a handout.
Allen, on her 35th day as administrator since being promoted, said the budget takes into account the commission’s priorities of building maintenance, infrastructure improvements and personnel, along with sheriff’s office and criminal justice spending.
Preparing the budget, which Allen said was balanced, began with an $8 million shortfall, due largely to the eventual conclusion of American Rescue Plan Act funds, she said.
“Whenever you use onetime funds to fund operating or repeating costs, we are creating a potential problem,” she said. “And that is the case here.”
To make up the difference, the budget keeps departments at 2025 levels, includes no cost-of-living adjustment and pauses reclassifying positions and department restructures, Allen said.
Over the years, the onetime funds have been used for revenue replacement, salary supplements, health insurance claims, salaries for nine positions, demolitions, right-of-way maintenance and the streetlight deficit, she said.
“As these funds are depleted, Augusta must refill these holes,” she said.
To fill the holes, Allen proposed reallocating $7 million in planned spending for 2025. The largest expenditure was $6 million for a water meter project that she said could be funded elsewhere. Other cuts include $500,000 for affordable housing, three full-time Finance positions and Fire Department capital spending.
Other budget requests the commission will consider include $5.3 million sought by sheriff-elect Gino Brantley for salaries, which does not include fringe benefits, $2.3 million by District Attorney Jared Williams and $112,000 for the Augusta Public Defender’s office.
The budget also keeps funding for 33 outside agencies at 2024 levels of $7.3 million.
Another issue is the city’s lack of performance measures that ensure funding levels match the commission’s expectations, she said.
“We are often lacking clear, consistent performance expectations for our departments,” Allen said.
The next steps are to have a public hearing Tuesday, work sessions Nov. 6-14 and adopt the budget Nov. 19, she said.
Commissioners had a few comments about the plan.
Commissioner Bobby Williams suggested raising property taxes, saying the city has been adopting the rollback rate for the last few years and that the school board and other area governments simply raise their taxes.
“They don’t ask you if you like it or not,” Williams said.
Commissioner Jordan Johnson bemoaned the removal of $500,000 in funds for affordable housing, but specified about $800,000 in downtown funding for the ACE cleanup program be continued.
Commissioner Catherine Smith McKnight advocated for Brantley to get his requested funding.
“I know $5.3 million is a lot, but I’d rather see it go there and us do what’s right for this county,” McKnight said.
Canal section remains closed due to damage
The storm left Augusta Canal, where Augusta gets 70% of its drinking water, in a “damaged state,” with trees fallen over the towpath and into the canal and its banks destabilized, Utilities Director Wes Byne said.
As a result, the towpath between the raw water pumping station and Savannah Rapids Pavilion remains closed as repairs are completed, he said. The canal lost “well over 100 trees” and will look “noticeably different” to recreational users, he said.
In addition, Utilities has suspended transfer fees, late fees and shutoffs until January, he said. “We are not trying to penalize people during this time,” he said.
