Augusta residents have the opportunity tonight, Oct. 5, at 6 P.M. to learn about priorities and ask questions about the proposed 2027 budget.
The city is sponsoring its second public engagement session. There was an in-person session last week. Tonight’s is a virtual session via Zoom livestream.
Members of the Augusta Commission Finance Commission were briefed on the proposed budget plan. Administrator Tameka Allen said the $1.2 billion budget is balanced and works to build a solid foundation for the future.
“Last year we started laying the framework for a stable foundation. This proposed budget continues that work, but I want to be clear from the start: a foundation is not built in one year, and it is not built without hard decisions,” she cautioned.
She tracked costs over the past ten years, including consumer prices and the cost of providing municipal services.
“Consumer prices rose about 36 percent. The cost of providing municipal services rose about 41 percent. Our property tax revenue grew only about 14 percent. The sharpest break came in 2021 and 2022, when municipal costs rose about 10 and 12 percent, and inflation hit its highest level in 40 years. During that time, Augusta was able to avoid tax increases in part because we had the American Rescue Plan funds that will replace the missing revenue. Cost growth has slowed since then, but prices have not come back down.”
There is a new source of revenue for the city. Collection of the Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) begins in 2027. FLOST is a half-cent special tax approved by voters targeting a reduction in property taxes. Allen cautioned it alone is insufficient to close the city’s revenue gap.
She is recommending a two-mil increase in the county’s maintenance and operations budget.
“The result is still a net decrease in the millage rate, which means still lower property taxes for our property owners,” she said.
Allen went on to say the administration will continue to look for ways to increase efficiency as a way to control costs.
“But efficiency alone cannot overcome the gap between the cost of our services and the revenue available to pay for them. We cannot continue a pattern of deficit spending. I respectfully urge you to consider the millage rate and Augusta’s long-term revenue structure,” she said.
The proposed budget does not create any new programs, nor create any new employment positions in the government. However, she is requesting consideration for current employees.
“We must look at our assets as a government, that starts with our human assets,” she advised. “We’ve done that. First, I feel strongly that we should include a cost of living adjustment for our employees. Next, health insurance. Even with the higher employee contributions and plan improvements, our costs are going to continue to rise.”
Allen concluded by asking finance committee members what their vision is for Augusta.
“What do you want to see? If we want to build our economy, we must be able to attract businesses and homeowners,” she said. “That requires stable finances, dependable services, and a government residence trust. As we continue building the framework for Augusta’s future, I ask that we approach it with discipline, transparency, and courage.”
Tonight’s virtual session begins at 6:00 p.m. The link to join the Zoom meeting is:
www.augustaga.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/4255
