Douglasville Officials Hold Virtual Budget Workshop

Press release from the City of Douglasville:

April 30, 2020

On Tuesday, April 28, Mayor Rochelle Robinson and members of the Douglasville City Council held a virtual budget workshop. This allowed the Mayor and Council to receive recommendations from each department to plan for and build the City’s budget as it moves into the 2020-2021 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2020.

“The Council and I were happy that these meetings could be streamed live, allowing the public to listen in on the conversation, even under these special circumstances,” Mayor Robinson said. “Our revenue, like other cities across the country, has been greatly affected. Our staff has done a wonderful job being fiscally responsible which has helped minimize the impact of COVID-19 on our budget.”

The City’s revenue sources have suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue from property and sales taxes are unknown at this point, causing City officials to take a conservative approach to its next budget.

In addition to fiscal responsibility, the City has utilized its SPLOST funds to keep up with its capital needs. All projects that are currently in progress will continue, but any projects that had a proposed kick-off date for the second half of the 2020 calendar year will be put on hold.

“We expect that our 2021 fiscal year budget will only include the bare necessities,” Mayor Robinson went on to say. “Travel and training for elected officials and employees have been put on hold for now, as well as our special events and gatherings. Until we have better clarity on what the financial outlook will be moving forward, it is in the City’s best interest to put these things on hold.”

The Douglasville City Council will receive the proposed fiscal year 2021 budget presentation at a virtual hearing on May 7 at 6 p.m. Then, on May 14, at a special-called virtual meeting, the City Council will adopt its fiscal year 2021 budget. Both these meetings will be available live at www.mycititv.com.

Mayor Robinson concluded by saying that “the City is taking these conversations very seriously. We are making the necessary sacrifices to ensure the solvency of our community and be certain that we continue to provide the services that are essential to all of our citizens.”

To watch a replay of the City Council’s virtual budget workshop, you can visit the City’s YouTube channel at www.mycititv.com. For further budget information visit the City’s website at www.DouglasvilleGA.gov.

This press release was produced by the City of Douglasville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.