The Augusta Commission runs up on its own self-imposed deadline Tuesday for approving the 2026 budget and hasn’t come close to deciding how to fill a $21 million deficit.
Over weeks of meetings, Administrator Tameka Allen has proposed a two-mill tax hike coupled with across-the-board cuts to departments, 10%-30% cuts to outside agencies and other reductions to fill the gap. Last week she suggested applying a tax hike just to fund law enforcement, which has been a primary cause of increased spending.
Commissioners have expressed reluctance to raise taxes or make the cuts in areas such as libraries, museums, victims’ services and public transit. A proposed $884,000 cut to transit would eliminate Saturday service and reduce buses from two to one on three routes.
The commission did reach consensus Thursday on cutting a handful of personnel from the city Housing and Community Development department and Richmond County Correctional Institution.
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The commission has a called budget meeting at noon Tuesday to resume discussions and a 1:30 p.m. closed-door session prior to a 2 p.m. regular meeting when the budget approval is scheduled.
If the commission doesn’t approve the budget by its own deadline, state law requires a balanced budget be in effect at the start of Augusta’s fiscal year in January.
During the regular meeting, the commission is expected to address another matter tied to the budget, that of reimbursing some $1.6 million in federal grant funding withheld from three departments by the U.S. Treasury.
The funds were withheld due to the Housing and Community Development failing to refund unspent grant funds to Treasury and the city has appealed. Reimbursing Augusta Transit, Augusta Regional Airport, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Augusta Utilities for the withheld grants goes before the commission Tuesday.
Also Tuesday the commission is scheduled to hear from Interim Augusta Canal Authority Executive Director Russ Gambill III about the canal budget request. The authority asked for $600,000, while Allen’s budget shows funding of $133,650, which is the authority’s current allocation minus 10%.
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In other action
Other business going before the commission Tuesday includes:
- Recognition of Stolkin Temple 22 of Prince Hall shriners for volunteer efforts with Augusta Recreation and Parks
- The Greater Augusta Arts Council’s presentation of 2025 City Arts Grant awardees
- Annual approval of hundreds of alcohol and Sunday sales licenses and licenses for dancing, arcades, cigar lounges, catering with alcohol, an adult bookstore and other services requiring licenses.
- Extending a contract with lobbying firm Holland & Knight LLP for a year for $96,000. The firm cites goals accomplished this year of increasing Augusta’s hotel-motel tax rate and the per diem to house state prisoners, implementing a 911 fee study and legislation creating the new local homestead exemption.
- Accepting a $3.7 million grant for preliminary study and design plans to study the impact of PFAS, or forever chemicals, in Augusta groundwater.
