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

Augusta commissioners met Thursday to work on the fiscal year 2024 budget. Several commissioners wanted to increase funding for certain outside organizations, while others looked for places to cut. Much of the meeting was spent deep in the weeds of the $1.16 billion budget presented last week.

One item that carried over from the first presentation of the budget was an internal audit, expected to cost about $300,000.

"Bids have been received in excess of $450,000. As you recall, I budgeted from a business standpoint $300,000," said Takiyah Douse, interim administrator. The negotiations are ongoing, Douse said, although some commissioners indicated they would not support the proposal at the current bid level.

"$450k is a lot to catch a rabbit," Commissioner Jordan Johnson said later in the session.

Several commissioners wanted to meet the full request of some outside agencies. The Canal Authority for example had asked for $300,000 for expenses related to maintenance and security, the administrator's proposed budget gave them $150,000. Several commissioners asked Douse to look at fully funding the request.

Commissioner Bobby Williams also wanted to provide the full $300,000 requested by Mach Academy, a tennis education nonprofit, as opposed to $220,000 in the suggested budget, and increased funding for the library.

Williams also asked about a renovation project for the juvenile court at the former Craig Houghton Elementary School. Douse said it was originally budgeted for $6 million, but actual estimates had come in at $32 million for construction, and they would present a plan for moving forward in January.

Several commissioners had concerns about shortfalls for next year's budget, as federal American Rescue Plan funds expire. Douse said the current budget shortfall from expiring ARP funds next year is about $4 million.

Commissioner Sean Frantom had several request for potentially trimming down the budget, which is currently balanced. He asked about trimming contingency out of department budgets, or cutting $1 million out of the total budget.

“I would much rather have it a little bit easier next year by tightening up the bolts a little bit this year," Frantom said.

Douse said that making the cut from the general fund would be challenging.

“In order to cut $1 million from our general fund, $200 million budget, ... I would strongly request guidance from this body," she said. "... A million dollars from your general fund is a lot, that would require programming, operations, possibly even personnel.”

Instead, Douse said the city planned to address some of the major issues, such as streetlight funding and the fire department, over the next year.

The public hearing for the budget will be held on Nov. 7, and the budget will be voted on Nov. 21, with time for an additional work session if necessary.

In Depth: By the numbers: What to know about the Augusta city budget 2024

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Budget workshop answers questions on Augusta 2024 plans