Cuts, layoffs possible as Augusta leaders scramble to balance budget

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta city leaders face one final task before the end of the year: balancing a budget that remains nearly $7 million short.

City commissioners say cuts, layoffs, department restructuring, and possible tax increases are all still on the table as they work to meet the state-mandated deadline of Dec. 31.

Multiple solutions needed

District 5 Commissioner Don Clark said the budget gap will require a comprehensive approach.

“It’s not gonna be a one-tiered solution. It’s gonna have to be a multi-tiered approach,” Clark said. “It’s gonna have to result in some additional cuts. It’s gonna have to result in some additional efficiencies. It’s gonna definitely have to result in some additional increases to the millage rate as well.”

Mayor Garnett Johnson said a work efficiency study could help identify where the city can operate more effectively.

“I’ve always said that a work efficiency study is perhaps in the best interest of the city,” the mayor said. “While we’ve done salary-related studies, we’ve never had the opportunity to do a work efficiency study to see if we have the right people in the right departments.”

Examining city operations

The study would examine whether work is being duplicated and help right-size staff so services like grass cutting, litter control and maintenance can be delivered consistently across the city.

“I think this action next year, if we take on this action of evaluating the departments, it will give us an opportunity to see where there’s additional cost savings to be made,” Johnson said.

District 10 Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle expressed hope that other commissioners would present solutions at the next meeting.

“I don’t want to go there. I was hoping my colleagues who’ve been quiet would have a solution come next Tuesday, and if not, it’s gonna go back on the table,” Guilfoyle said.

Balancing efficiency and services

The mayor said additional cuts could be made through efficiency rather than eliminating jobs or services.

“I think there’s an opportunity to make additional cuts. I think we can be a little bit more lean and a little bit more efficient. Not necessarily mean cutting jobs, but not necessarily mean cutting services, just through efficiency,” the mayor said.

Guilfoyle said department directors and elected officials should find ways to cut waste while retaining employees.

“Any department directors or any elected officials, if the budget has to be cut more, you’ll find a way of doing it while retaining your employees. It just, you cut out the waste,” Guilfoyle said.

Clark said the decisions will set the tone for how Augusta operates going forward.

“We’re gonna balance the budget, but we’re also setting the tone for how Augusta does business,” Clark said.

The mayor said the path forward requires compromise.

“The path forward is just a compromise. It’s a combination of both,” the mayor said.

Commissioners will meet Dec. 16 to work on balancing the budget. State law requires them to complete the task by the end of the year. Both the mayor and several commissioners said they are confident it will be done.

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