AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Greg Costello is getting his steps in at Diamond Lakes, and he thinks Augusta took the right step on the budget.

“I like that, that’s good. That was probably something that was needed right,” said Greg Costello.

Commissioners approved the 2026 budget without a tax increase. Instead, there’s a 5 percent cut to city departments and the elimination of funding for some non-government organizations. 

“For this budget and we went through line item by line item through the budget we had to make some difficult decisions to make cuts,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle.

At Diamond Lakes, those cuts will likely be felt.

MACH Academy Inc., the nationally recognized tennis mentoring program, is losing $200,000 in funding, and a 5 percent cut to Recreation that maintains it, creates worries.

“Yes, I am, because I think parks are very well needed,” said Costello.

Commissioners can make changes to the budget at any time, and some would like that instead of the cuts.

“We have a responsibility to support programs that help our kids stay out of trouble to help our community stay healthy and strong, to help add quality of life and museums and things of that nature,” said Commissioner Jordan Johnson.

“The only other option we have is to raise taxes to fund the NGOs. As a steward of the taxpayers, I can not do that,” said Guilfoyle.

It was a battle getting next year’s budget approved. Expect another one if there’s a move to amend it.

AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF)- Two local nonprofit groups are teaming up to expand their mission to provide medical equipment to those in need.

Cutter’s Resource Closet and Sons of Consolation Ministries collect, refurbish and distribute used medical equipment to people who can’t afford it.

“We see roughly around anywhere around about 100 people. And we only operate for 4 hours one day a week,” explained Cutter Mitchell of Cutter’s Resource Closet. “Through that time, we’ve given out about $1,000,000 worth of equipment and supplies. And these are just growing. I mean, we’re at capacity. We literally can’t do more without more.”

The two organizations have been working together for some time. Now they are partnering to raise a total of $200,000 to buy, renovate and operate a full-time community medical resource center in Augusta.

“Really what we’re trying to do is have a central location to be able to distribute the medical supplies and equipment. But more than that, connect people with resources,” said Mitchell.

They told NewsChannel 6 the new center will help them do even more for the community.

“Here, we also are looking at adding a couple of things that we’re not presently doing, like some exam rooms to do, just basic health screening and maybe some minor wound care,” said Don Cummings, Sons of Consolation Ministries. “Because a lot of people, they’re just not being taken care of because they won’t or don’t go to the doctor or can’t afford it or whatever. So we’re really looking for this to be a supplement to what we started.”

So far, they’ve raised about $60,000. Now they’re asking for the community’s help and generosity to get the center up and running.

“I’ve often thought the right thing to do, right, is not what you could do, not what you want to do, but it’s what you should do. And it often isn’t easy, often comes at a cost to you personally. But that’s why it’s called the right thing to do,” said Mitchell.

“You know, every little bit helps. You know, a lot of times people, they feel like they don’t have enough to make a difference or they just don’t know where to send it. And I believe that this is a good cause,” Cummings added.

If you are in need of medical equipment or have equipment you would like to donate, just go to the websites for either Sons of Consolation Ministries or Cutter’s Resource Closet to find out how they can help.

If you are interested in contributing financially to the capital campaign, the organizations have a GoFundMe set up.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The Richmond County Coroner’s Office confirmed Tuesday it responded to the hospital in reference to a death as a result of a crash.

According to officials, 53-year-old Johnny Brown of Augusta was pronounced dead at 4:28 p.m. on Dec. 16.

Coroner Mark Bowen said Brown was the driving a moped while being pursued by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office when he crashed into a vacant building on Gordon Highway at approximately 12:16 a.m. on Tuesday.

Brown and a passenger on the moped was transported to Wellstar by EMS.

The coroner’s office said an autopsy will be scheduled.

This is a developing story.