Augusta budget continues moving forward, some want cuts

The Augusta government budget is moving forward more or less as presented following a public hearing and the request by some commissioners for an across-the-board cut.

Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle in the commission meeting on Tuesday put forward a proposal on a 1.5% cut to the budget, without impacting cost of living raises or employee benefits. He has expressed ongoing concern that with the end of American Rescue Plan funds, Augusta will face a budget shortfall next year.

“If the administrator feels satisfied we won’t have to raise taxes, that we don’t have a shortfall in the … 2025 budget, I’ll put this down," Guilfoyle said.

Interim Administrator Takiyah Douse said that next year the budget would be short about $3 million to cover supplemental increases to salaries for part-time employees and the fire department. The supplemental funds for full-time employees was incorporated in to this year's budget. There is also about another $1 million in items currently covered by ARP funds that will no longer be covered, Douse said, for a total possible shortfall of $4 million.

The proposed budget from Douse is balanced, she told commissioners, as she anticipates a surplus from this year, but does not yet know what it will be.

Commissioner Bobby Williams said the commission was giving mixed signals, pointing to asks by the commission to increase funding for three non-governmental organizations, including the Canal Authority.

"In once sense we’re asking her to cut, in another sense we’re asking for more money," Williams said.

Mayor Garnett Johnson and Commissioner Sean Frantom both seemed interested in some kind of cut, with Frantom suggesting a delay to the budget approval timeline if necessary to work out the details. Other commissioners also raised the possibility of a different budget process in future, including potentially a mid-year review.

After some confusion over the parliamentary procedure, Commissioner Catherine Smith McKnight motioned to direct Douse to make a 0.75% cut. Commissioner Jordan Johnson asked which part of the budget the cut would be directed to — the entire $1.16 billion total budget, the $200 million general fund or some other aspect.

The motion went to a vote without clarifying Johnson's question and failed, with commissioners McKnight, Frantom, Guilfoyle and Brandon Garrett voting in favor, then Johnson, Williams Stacy Pulliam, Francine Scott, and Tony Lewis voting against it, and Alvin Mason abstaining.

Following the meeting, Douse told the Chronicle she would be presenting a budget to the commissioners with the increase in funding for the three non-governmental organizations that had been requested.

Other than those, "I've received no amendment requests," she said.

Even after the vote, Frantom said he still thinks there is room for some kind of reduction to the budget before final passage.

"I think there’s a will to cut something. I don’t know what that is," he told the other commissioners as they wrapped up.

The public hearing on the budget before the general meeting brought comments from just two members of the public, both of whom expressed concern about funding for cemeteries and hoping it would not be cut.

Previously: Augusta Commission asks for expanded funding for outside groups, budget cuts

Commission weighs in: Augusta's $1.16 billion budget: What you need to know

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta budget continues moving forward, some want cuts