Tax increase causes pushback on Augusta’s proposed 2026 budget

Published

7 months ago

October 16, 2025

Tax increase causes pushback on Augusta’s proposed 2026 budget

AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF) – The Augusta City Administrator kicked off the budget season by saying the house is on fire, and city leaders could feel the burn.

“I wouldn’t say we’re burning up but we’re seeing signs of smoke, certainly the alarm bells have sounded. Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves and go to work,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.

The administrator has started working, proposing a budget that eliminates a $21 million dollar shortfall by implementing across the board spending cuts and a 31 percent property tax increase.

This would come on the heels of new streetlight and garbage fees hitting taxpayers this year.

“Getting socked two years in a row, would that be fair?”

“No, it would not be. They need to hold off a couple years, at least give us a break. Give us a chance,” said Patrick Ford who was paying this year’s taxes at the Municipal Building.

The tax increase would bring in $16 million dollars and is a major part of eliminating the shortfall, but there is pushback.

“I don’t want to raise those taxes. We had a streetlight increase, we had a garbage increase and the last thing I want to do is for the constituents to feel the crunch,” said Commissioner Tony Lewis.

“I’m not going to support any tax increase,” said Mayor Johnson.

So that could result in deeper spending cuts and could cost jobs.

“If you do cuts, you lay off people.”

“You’re laying off people,” said Lewis.

“Do you want to do that?”

“You’re affecting folks livelihood, George. I don’t want to do that either,” said Lewis.

“I don’t want to see layoffs, but I do believe we need to create a more efficient government,” said the mayor.

Under state law, the commission must approve a balanced budget. The proposed one is balanced, but it doesn’t look to stay that way.

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Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident

Published

10 hours ago

May 9, 2026

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Historic Masters landmark purchased and renovated by local resident | News | wfxg.com

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Augusta, GA

Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta

Published

22 hours ago

May 9, 2026

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Georgia governor candidate Olu Brown campaigns in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Democratic candidate for Georgia governor Olu Brown visited Augusta on Friday evening, stopping near the Sand Hills Community Center as early voting continues.

Brown is one of six candidates in the Democratic primary.

Campaign priorities

Brown said his vision as governor would focus on three main areas.

“One, it’s affordability around health care and making sure we expand Medicaid and expand Peach Care and make sure we continue to make our rural health care systems healthy and vital,” Brown said. “Number two, we’ve got to address education in all of Georgia, making sure every kid in Georgia gets an excellent education, and we’re paying our teachers more. And number 3, we’re protecting the rights of all women. Folks in the Gold Dome shouldn’t be making decisions about their bodies or the choices that they make.”

Brown is running against Amanda Duffy, Derrick Jackson, Geoff Duncan, Jason Esteves, Keisha Lance Bottoms and Mike Thurmond.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Prep student arrested over picture of LEGO gun, threat he called a joke

Published

1 day ago

May 8, 2026

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Augusta Prep student arrested over picture of LEGO gun, threat he called a joke

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta Prep student was arrested on a charge of terroristic threats over a picture of a LEGO gun he posted on social media.

It happened Wednesday, according to an incident report from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Eric Hedinger, the principal of Augusta Preparatory Day School, told deputies a student had uploaded a picture to Snapchat of a “pistol” with the caption “shooting up the school so I don`t have to take the stats exam tomorrow. Don`t come yall!”

The principal said he spoke to the student and his father about the photo.

The principal also provided deputies with the student’s address in Grovetown.

A deputy went there and was told by the student that the “pistol” was a LEGO set that he had built.

He also said the comment he made was supposed to be a joke because he was not looking forward to taking his Advanced Placement statistics test this week.

The student showed the deputy the box that the LEGO set came in, and how the set was already disassembled.

The deputy also looked in the boy’s room to make sure he was not in possession of any weapons.

The mother advised that there was one firearm in the residence but it was locked up.