The Statesboro City Council approved nearly $929,000 in spending cuts Tuesday morning as part of its first amendment to the Fiscal Year 2027 budget. The cuts, which include city-wide reductions, follow the council’s decision to reject the city manager’s recommendation to increase the millage rate.
In September 2026, the Statesboro City Council voted 4-0 to maintain the millage rate at 8.625 mills despite City Manager Charles Penny’s recommendation to increase the rate to 9.60 mills. Penny’s recommendation corresponded with the budget approved by city council in June.
The decision to hold steady on the millage rate followed public opposition to the proposed increase and while the numerical rate remains the same, under Georgia law, the 8.625 mills is still a tax increase due to assessed property values.
Tuesday’s Budget Amendment
According to the city council packet, the City needed to reduce the FY2027 Budget by $1.34 million. Documents provided in the council packet show $928,758 in cuts, though staff notations for the council consideration stated the amendment reduced the budget by $1.04 million.
The amendment includes more than $466,000 in reductions to regular employee expenditure categories and transfers another $175,000 from the city’s Solid Waste Collection Fund into the General Fund. While the amendment identifies dozens of spending adjustments, it does not specify whether the personnel reductions are attributable to vacant positions or other staffing changes.
Elected Officials and Administrative Expenses
Travel
- Mayor salary reduced by $1,860
- District 1 travel reduced by $1,240
- District 2 travel reduced by $2,515
- District 3 travel reduced by $2,500
- District 4 travel reduced by $1,450
- District 5 travel reduced by $2,500
- $5,000 in public relations expenditures were cut from the Governing Body as was $9,805 in expenditures for temporary employees.
Education & Training
Training and education for the mayor and each council member was reduced by $1,000 each.
Other Cuts
- $300 office supplies
- $25 in uniforms
- $9,950 in “provisions”
- $115 in “books and periodicals”
- $15,000 for “Commissions”
- $500 in miscellaneous expenses
Cultural and Recreational Activities cuts for Downtown Live by $23,390.
City Manager
- Travel reduced by $14,040
- Education & Training reduced by $2,400
- Office supplies reduced by $1,740
City Clerk
- Overtime reduced by $340
- Official/Administrative line item reduced by $1,000
- Travel reduced by $3,720
- Education & Training reduced by $2,520
- Contractor Labor reduced by $5,000
- General Supplies reduced by $200
- Uniforms reduced by $300
- Books & Periodicals reduced by $100
- Furniture & Fixtures reduced by $212
Finance Department
- Regular Employees cut by $10,000.
- Overtime cut by $1,595.
- Finance Consulting cut by $3,000.
- Travel cut by $1,400.
- Education and Training cut by $179.
- Office/General Supplies cut by $1,000.
- Uniforms cut by $250.
- Small Tools and Equipment cut by $100.
- Computer Accessories cut by $100.
- Furniture and Fixtures cut by $100
City Attorney
- Travel cuts: $1,400
- Education & Training cuts: $179
Human Resources
- Travel cuts: $3,570.
- Education and Training cut $6,000.
- Contract Labor cut $23,000.
- Advertising cut $5,000.
- Provisions cut $20,000.
- Miscellaneous cut $1,000
Public Affairs
- Travel: $1,400
- Education & Training: $1,579
- Contractor Labor/Services: $14,000
- Police Department & Municipal Court
- Police Administration for Regular Employees by $115,500
- Police Administration for Polygraph by $2,000
- Police Administration for Travel by $741
- Police Administration for Printing and Binding by $1,000
- Police Administration for Education and Training by $5,179
- Police Administration for Uniforms by $5,000
- Police Administration for Ammunition and Taser Supplies by $2,000
- Police Administration for Small Tools and Equipment by $10,000
- Police Operations for Regular Employees by $37,000
- Police Patrol for R&M Vehicles by $5,300
- Police Patrol for Uniforms by $5,000
- Police Patrol for Small Tools and Equipment by $5,000
- Municipal Court Overtime by $400
- Municipal Court Office/General Supplies by $500
Municipal Court Provisions by $150 - Municipal Court Small Tools and Equipment by $500
Fire Department Reductions
- Travel by $10,741
- Education and Training by $7,679.
- Uniforms by $5,000.
- Small Tools and Equipment by $5,000.
- Buildings by $5,000.
Parks and Community Programs
- Regular Employees by $34,294.
- Art Park Lease by $20,000.
- Travel by $600.
- Contract Labor/Services by $48,482.
- Uniforms by $1,518.
- General Supplies/Tree Board $2,700
Engineering
- Regular Employees by $75,000
- Education and Training by $179
- Contract Labor/Services by $10,000
- Uniforms by $450.
- Provisions by $100
- Books and Periodicals by $300.
- Furniture and Fixtures by $500
- Public Works
- Regular Employees by $58,000
- Travel by $2,500
- Education and Training by $2,800
- Contract/Labor Services by $1,000
- Uniforms by $375
- Provisions by $2,516
Streets
- Travel by $1,000
- Education and Training by $1,750.
- Contract Labor/Services by $20,000.
- Office/General Supplies by $6,000.
- Uniforms by $1,000.
- Electricity by $10,000.
- Other Equipment by $3,000
Customer Service
- Regular Employees by $15,000
- Overtime by $400
- Education and Training by $500
- Office/General Supplies by $500
- Uniforms by $500
- Provisions by $10
- Furniture and Fixtures by $300
- Miscellaneous by $300.
Protective Inspections
- Contractor Labor Services by $1,000
- Uniforms by $81
Planning and Development
- Regular Employees by $87,794.
- Temporary Employees by $4,861.
- Travel by $2,977.
- Education and Training by $179.
- Contract Labor/Services by $4,000.
- Uniforms by $200.
- Provisions by $150.
- Communication Devices/Services by $444.
Code Compliance
- Education and training by $900
- Uniforms by $1,900
Central Service Fund
- Reduce travel for Information Technology by $750.
- Information Technology Office/General Supplies by $500
- Information Technology for Education and Training by $1,000.
- Information Technology for Uniforms by $200. I
- Information Technology for Provisions by $100.
- Government Buildings for Cleaning Services by $5,000.
- Government Buildings for R&M Building and Grounds by $20,000
City Council voted 4-0* to approve the amendment.
*District 2’s seat is vacant.
