City commissioners unanimously pass FY24-25 budget after August failure
Felder, Hopkins change votes since last action to okay $42.668 ledger
Waycross has a new budget for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024-25 after action last week by the Waycross City Commission.
The four sitting commissioners unanimously passed the proposed $42.668 million ledger during their bi-monthly meeting Tuesday, October 15 in City Hall. The vote followed a final public hearing on the financial sheet called by the commission and held earlier Tuesday, October 15.
Two previous attempts to approve the proposal of City Manager Ulysses “Duke” Rayford had failed.
The affirmative votes of Commissioners Katrena Felder and Diane Hopkins were contrary to the earlier calls for question on the budget. Both offered “nay” votes in August during the second attempt.
The first attempt at passage in June failed for lack of a second by either commissioner to a motion for approval by Commissioner Sheinita Bennett.
The commission’s composition, however, changed last month when District 5 Commissioner Alvin Nelson was returned to his seat prior by order of the Georgia Supreme Court. Nelson’s appeal of the Ware County Superior Court ruling in the lawsuit brought by Henry Strickland challenging the results of the November 7, 2023 election is scheduled to be heard by the high court during its term in November.
Felder said her earlier issue was not with the budget itself, but the fact raises were given to select city administrative employees above the proposed one percent cost of living raise in FY25 budget. It was her view the increases didn’t follow the city’s charter or protocol, she said.
The manner in which Rayford’s salary is determined was among the questions Felder and Hopkins posed in the final discussions before the budget vote.
“Frontline employees (police, firefighters and public works) who are making low wages that are not competitive with other cities and employers should be earning a salary comparable to today’s living,” Felder said. “We are losing great employees simply because of the low wages they are paid by the City of Waycross.
“Such low wages are not enough, so these frontline city employees are working two and three jobs just to sustain. It’s frustrating when those who put in the hard work and face challenging situations or unexpected crises like Hurricane Helene aren’t compensated fairly, while others seem to receive raises in the proposed budget without following the established approval processes.”
The District 3 representative said employee retention is crucial for maintaining quality services for citizens. She said a review of the compensation structure and charter should be a point of emphasis in the near future.
“It’s time for this commission to review and amend the city’s compensation structure and Charter to ensure it aligns with the demands placed on frontline workers and administrative staff that support each of their vital roles,” Felder said. “With that being said, at the end of the day, the city must function and sometimes you just have to move on.”
Attempts to contact Hopkins by text, email and phone as late as Monday afternoon, October 21 for a comment on her vote change were unsuccessful.
