The process for a third attempt by the Waycross City Commission to pass a budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25 will begin Tuesday, September 17, commissioners decided last week.
City Manager Ulysses “Duke” Rayford said during the commission’s meeting Tuesday, August 21, he would again be ready to offer a budget proposal next month. He suggested 3 p.m. Tuesday, October 1 for the required public hearing with a vote to possibly follow at the commission’s meeting two weeks later.
Commissioners also were OK with the October dates. They earlier rejected Rayford’s proposed $42.668 million ledger June 18 and again August 13.
The commission approved a pair of resolutions in its only other action at the short session in City Hall.
One enabled Mayor Michael-Angelo James to sign multiple resolutions, forms and documents related to the city’s Community Home Investment Program grant 2024-119, including the Southern Georgia Regional Commission grant administration contract.
The other moved the commission’s first planning and information session next month to Tuesday, September 3 at 3 p.m. ahead of the bi-monthly meeting at 5 p.m. The change was made because of the Labor Day holiday, September 2.
Mayor James, Commissioners Sheinita Bennett, Katrena Felder and Diane Hopkins were present for the meeting.
Rayford’s suggested timetable for another attempt at passage of the budget brought comments from each of the three commissioners, especially Katrena Felder of District 3 and District 4’s Diane Hopkins. Both of them have questioned a variety of items in a new budget, chief among them some proposed salary increases and transparency throughout the process.
“With good reason, I have concerns with the level of transparency regarding the city’s budget,” Felder said. “I’m hopeful my concerns will be resolved.”
Hopkins has questioned what appear to be raises exceeding the 10 percent threshold that can’t be awarded without commission approval. Both she and Felder said the itemization of some salary increases presented in the budget are well above 10 percent.
Rayford said some salaries could appear that way because the person tied to the entry wasn’t in the position the entire previous fiscal year. He used his tenure, which began in the final quarter of FY2223, as an example.
That line item only would show a little more than 25 percent of the total compensation for the city manager from FY22-23 to FY23-24. However, for sucessive budgets, salaries for the administrative assistant, city clerk and assistant city clerk also are enumerated under “city manager” because they now operate out of his office.
Rayford assured commissioners there were no raises of more than 10 percent in the proposed budget.
Three citizens brought the budget issue to the previous evenings commission planning and information session.
Each sought reasons from the commissioners for rejection of the proposal, saying the impasse is reflecting poorly on the city. Mayor James reminded the guests — Ray Lott, Stanley Evans and Melissa Ingle — posing the questions were fine, but the forum wasn’t set up as an exchange between guests and commissioners.
They were fine to seek out commissioners after the meeting for answers.
Lott wanted to know if each of the commissioners was “on the same page” when the budget process began, and if not, why.
“What is the major problem?” he said. Stanley Evans, a member of the city’s Public Works department and a clergyman, said the rejections have made it hard for workers and citizens to be optimistic about the city.
“I love this city and defend this city, but it’s hard to encourage others when our leaders aren’t coming to agreement,” said Evans, the city’s Employee of the Month for July.
Melissa Ingle, President of the Downtown Merchants Association, said she and others have had no responses to questions they’ve posed to commissioners and other city officials about the situation.
She said, “We’ve (city) become a joke”, before closing her remarks.
The city is operating on its FY23-24 budget of $37.992 million until approval of a successor. Commissioners approved a resolution at a called meeting June 29 to continue with the old budget until its successor is adopted.
