BALDWIN, Ga. — Baldwin city leaders will continue work on the city’s FY 2027 budget Tuesday as officials attempt to reconcile financial discrepancies, account for previously unbudgeted expenses and develop a more accurate picture of the city’s finances ahead of a June budget deadline.
The Baldwin City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. June 2 at the Baldwin Municipal Courtroom, 155 Willingham Ave.
The budget is expected to dominate the meeting agenda, with a public hearing and council discussion scheduled following a special-called budget work session held May 19.
During that meeting, City Manager Tiera Morrison and newly hired Finance Director Angela Adams presented a draft budget showing approximately $8.3 million to $8.4 million in projected revenue against roughly $8.7 million in expenditures. Officials cautioned the figures were preliminary and subject to change as staff continue reviewing accounts, reconciling bank statements and correcting discrepancies discovered in prior budgets.
“This is a draft budget,” Morrison told council members during the May 19 meeting. “Expect this to actively change throughout this budget process.”
Adams, who had been on the job less than a week when she presented the draft budget, said she and Morrison were uncovering new issues almost daily as they worked through the city’s financial records.
Among the findings discussed at the special-called meeting were allocation issues involving public safety equipment purchases, discrepancies in revenue reporting and approximately $250,000 in expenses that officials said were not properly accounted for in previous budget cycles.
Council members also learned that radio replacement costs for the city’s fire and police departments were significantly higher than earlier estimates. The draft budget includes approximately $140,000 for fire department radios and $110,000 for police radios.
Fire Chief Ross Jackson told council members the final costs were substantially higher than figures departments had previously been given.
Police Chief Chris Jones also outlined complications involving funding plans that originally relied on American Rescue Plan Act funds and other one-time revenue sources.
The discussion highlighted broader efforts by city staff to rebuild Baldwin’s financial reporting processes. Adams said the city plans to move toward monthly financial reporting, department-level budget reviews and the eventual creation of a financial dashboard to provide greater transparency for elected officials and the public.
Mayor Doug Faust said after the meeting that he appreciated the administration’s willingness to openly identify problems while working toward more accurate financial reporting.
“What I appreciated was the transparency and honesty that, hey, we have issues, we’re solving for the problem,” Faust said.
Councilman Joe Elam, who has repeatedly called for tighter fiscal controls and closer scrutiny of city spending, said he remains optimistic the city can reduce costs and improve long-term financial stability.
“I am optimistic that there’s a path to help right-size this budget,” Elam said following the May 19 meeting.
City officials have said they hope to have a more refined budget proposal ready for council review by June 16, though revisions are expected to continue throughout the month.
In addition to budget discussions, council members will review a proposed intergovernmental agreement related to the Banks County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST, during the meeting work session.
The meeting is open to the public.
