‘Fact-myth’ format used to answer citizen questions
Waycross City Manager Ulysses “Duke” Rayford addressed citizen concerns about the operating budget last week during a called City Commission meeting to discuss the second quarter budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
As part of his update, Rayford used a “myth vs. fact” format to talk about speculation in the budget and the manner in which its funds are handled and accounts are determined. The bulk of the views have been through posts on social media platforms, and on occasion, in discussions Rayford has had with citizens.
As an example, one panel of the presentation responded to the question that the city was “flush with cash” from the looks of the budget at certain times of the year.
“While some revenue lines may look strong at certain points in the year, that does not mean the city has excess money available to spend freely.
“Many revenues are season or timing-based, especially property taxes” hence an appearance there is more money than actually available.
The presentation is on the city’s Facebook page. A video was posted Thursday evening, January 22, on YouTube on the subject of the budget. It referenced Rayford’s presentation related to citizen conjecture and pointed to a specific part of the budget enumerating reimbursements.
Rayford said Friday he’d seen the video, but had no comment on it. Finance Director Greg Smith addressed the video’s key complaint.
The reimbursements from the Water & Sewer Fund, Waste Management, Waste Management Dumpster and Storm Water were to the Finance Department for staff members who handle billing, collections and customer care for those city services.
The largest of the group is a $2,339,628 item from Water & Sewer, which is 80 percent of the Finance Department’s salaries, the video said, seeking documentation how the city arrived at the 80 percent figure.
Smith said it was his estimation of the time the staffers handle that portion of the city’s utility services. He added the 80 percent in this year’s budget likely was low.
Reimbursements for the other three utilities in order were $320k, $220k and $75k.
Smith, who’s nearing his fourth year in his post with the city, has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1983.
Prior to joining the city, much of his work was as an auditor, including time with the city’s former auditing firm.
He said neither Mauldin & Jenkins, the city’s current independent auditor nor the state office in Atlanta, has flagged the practice of estimations in past audits.
“That’s never been questioned that I know of,” Smith said.
The reimbursements as they appear on the budget summary were approved as part of the budget proposal last June by commissioners, Smith said.
No money moves from one part of the General Fund to another without approval of a majority of a quorum three of the five-member commission, he said.
Commissioners are provided with a budget update monthly, Smith added.
Rayford said the city’s new accounting software has a component that will help with time estimates in future budgeting.
