Waycross will operate on a near $39.6 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27 following passage last week by city commissioners.
The approval came in a resolution during the commission’s bi-monthly meeting Tuesday, June 2. The second of two required public hearings preceded Tuesday’s meeting in City Hall.
Approval came earlier than the original timetable Waycross City Manager Ulysses “Duke” Rayford offered during an hourlong presentation of the proposed budget May 21. It called for placement on the Tuesday, June 16 meeting agenda for consideration.
The five commissioners were in agreement after Tuesday’s second hearing to place the proposal on that evening’s agenda.
Each offered praise to Rayford, city department directors and staff for their efforts in presenting a budget crafted with the theme “balance and sustain.”
“After reading (budget) the last two weeks this is a good product,” Commissioner Alvin Nelson said, adding he was especially appreciative of staff taking and answering questions from commissioners and citizens on the ledger.
“You found innovative ways to accomplish goals and enable (city) to still provide services at a high level,” Commissioner Shawn Sanders said. “There were some tough decisions.”
Budgets are required to be filed with the Georgia Department of Revenue by June 30 for the new ledger to begin July 1.
A copy of the budget was available for public viewing on the city’s website or by request in City Hall after Rayford’s initial presentation.
Rayford said external costs of fuel, heath care and insurance, contracted labor and materials, inflation along with equipm ent/maintenance expenses were among the drivers of the budget.
This year’s proposal represents a decrease of about $725,000 or 1.8 percent compared to last year’s $40.3m ledger.
The major difference in last year’s total and the current proposal comes from losses in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax revenue, projections show.
The end of money from the 2018 TSPLOST represents $2.65 million and that of the Regional TSPLOST totals $300,700. Another $95k comes with the end of the 2014 SPLOST.
American Rescue Plan Act and Federal Emergency Management Association funds totaling $75k each ln last year’s budget also are missing from this year’s ledger.
Despite that, the proposal shows an increase in the general fund of $1.046m (5.4%) to $20.332m.
The bulk of the money over last year comes from an additional $1,052,724 in the water-sewer fund from the approved increase in rates.
There’s also about $225k in the waste management fund added as well as $93k in the storm water fund.
Nearly 80 percent of the budget, $16.234m, is fueled by city taxes and license fees.
The next largest generator is the reimburseable/intra fund at $2.6m (14.6%).
The largest expenditure at 55.2 percent is public safety, with $6.4m for police and $4.8m for fire. Public works follows with 13.2 percent at $2.67m.
The budget includes a two percent cost of living adjustment for all city staff.
