Few speak at 2026 budget hearing as city weighs tax hike, deep cuts
Augusta resident Lakelynn Barnes speaks out Tuesday against proposed cuts in the 2026 budget.
Date: November 06, 2025
By Susan McCord
The Augusta Commission held its first and only public hearing Tuesday on the 2026 budget, which currently includes a two-mill tax increase and across-the-board cuts to services and outside groups.
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The Author
Susan McCord is a veteran journalist and writer who began her career at publications in Asheville, N.C. She spent nearly a decade at newspapers across rural southwest Georgia, then returned to her Augusta hometown for a position at the print daily. She’s a graduate of the Academy of Richmond County and the University of Georgia. Susan is dedicated to transparency and ethics, both in her work and in the beats she covers. She is the recipient of multiple awards, including a Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Fellowship, first place for hard news writing from the Georgia Press Association and the Morris Communications Community Service Award.
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