By RICK NOLTE StaffWriter
Waycross City Manager Ulysses “Duke” Rayford will reveal a proposed budget for Waycross in fiscal year 202627 during the first of two public hearings early next month.
City commissioners approved dates last week for the mandatory two hearings on the budget, as well as a date to vote on the proposal. Rayford will first present the ledger to commissioners at 3:30 p.m., May 5 before their first business meeting of the month at 5 p.m.
The second public hearing will be at 3:30 p.m. May 19 prior to the month’s second business session. Commissioners are set to vote on the proposed budget at 5 p.m. June 2.
Fiscal 26-27 budgets for government entities are to be filed by June 30 with the Georgia Department of Revenue to start the next fiscal year July 1.
The timeline toward determining the city’s next budget was the highlight of the
see BUDGET, Page 4 commission’s meeting April 21 in City Hall. Commissioners also approved four resolutions — three related to the Waycross Fire Department — and set a public hearing for 4:30 p.m., June 2 on a request to close a right of way.
Mayor Michael-Angelo James conducted the meeting, with all commissioners except William Tompkins attending. An executive session for members to discuss litigation followed the public portion of the meeting.
The commission discussed aspects of the next budget during its spring planning retreat April 10-11. The city is working from a current budget of $40.168 million, which was a decrease of about $2.51 million over the 2024-25 ledger.
Resolutions
Commissioners approved purchases for WFD in two of the resolutions and moved outdated items to surplus with the other. Both expenditures will be covered by funds remaining from a Federal Emergency Management Fund grant that was acquired to purchase a new fire safety house used in visits to schools, Fire Chief Jim Blackburn said.
The first was for $40,104 for firefighter turnout gear from the Municipal Equipment Company of Orlando, Fla. The new gear will replace items more than 10 years old that no longer meet fire protection standards.
The second was for $29,554 for a digital fire extinguisher training system. Blackburn said the system will be used for instruction on the proper use of an extinguisher.
He said the device is a computerized system with a flat screen TV that allows the instructor to set up a variety of fire scenarios in order to guide the person in proper use of the extinguisher for that particular instance. Blackburn said the system will be especially beneficial during fire safety demonstrations at schools and other organizations.
The other measure for WFD surplussed 17 metal lockers that no longer are operable, and a large capacity ice machine beyond servicing, for sale on govdeals. com to the highest bidder.
The final resolution approved a sixth amendment to a contract for Coastal Engineering Consultants for planning, design, engineering and construction oversight for seven paving projects on dirt roads in the city. That contract totals $665,000, with the resolution focused on $55,000 for design work at Morton Lane, Overton and Atlantic avenues, Oxford and Scruggs streets, Marshall Drive and Cherokee Circle.
Public hearing action
In other business, commissioners set another public hearing for 4:30 p.m., June 2 to consider a request to close a right of way alley in the area of Columbus Street and Garlington Avenue in the South Deenwood subdivision.
A public hearing also preceeded a zoning change request to property on Marion Street, between Bluegrass Street and City Boulevard, before the April 21 meeting. Commissioners voted to table the request and returned it to the planning and zoning board for further study.
