$5 million budget increase proposed for Warner Robins. Here’s what it’s going to.

WARNER ROBINS — Cities statewide are preparing spending plans for fiscal year 2027, including Warner Robins. At a Monday public hearing, city leaders revealed a multi-million-dollar budget and outlined where some of it would be spent.

According to council documents, proposed expenditures total almost $185 million, an increase over last year’s budget of nearly $180 million.

The city plans to fix aging infrastructure that hasn’t seen as much required maintenance.

City Administrator James Drinkard didn’t place blame on past administrations, but did acknowledge the need for more upkeep.

“We have to be careful that we don’t look back on past decisions with the lens of today. Hindsight is easy,” he said at the meeting. “Those choices were made for whatever reason. Cans were kicked down the road, and today we’ve reached the end of the road.”

Drinkard said costs for asphalt have increased by 68%, pipe by 60%, water by 43%, and concrete by 10% in the past few years.

He said now is the time to act, with rising costs for construction materials and resources, 

“Think about your own household budgets. You’ve seen costs rise. We’ve seen those same costs rise. Our electricity costs go up, just like yours do. Our fuel costs go up, just like yours do,” he said.

The budget also includes a 2.5% cost-of-living increase for city employees. Drinkard said last year’s budget did not include one for the roughly 700 people hired by the city.

“To remain competitive in the market and attract and retain the talent that we need to be able to run a modern city, we have to address salaries in this fiscal year,” he said.

According to Drinkard, the proposed budget is based on a millage rate of 13.8. Homesteaded properties will see a lower rate due to sales tax funding. 

In Houston County, the homestead millage rate will be 10.26. 

In Warner Robins, the average home value is $212,000, according to Zillow. For a home valued at $200,000, the millage rate means a $104 increase on the property tax bill.

The city says this year’s budget is geared towards long-term objectives and addresses issues that fell by the wayside.

The city’s goal this year, according to Drinkard, is a budget that does not pull from the city’s reserve fund. The city wants to replenish the funds by $3.4 million per year for three years.

Key improvements residents may notice include efforts to address blight in the city. The city plans to set aside a $300,000 blight remediation fund to address properties where the owner refuses to act.

The city also plans to outsource right-of-way mowing and landscaping on city-owned parks and properties, totaling $405,000.

Parks may also see upgrades to shade structures, bathrooms, playgrounds and seating. Sales tax funding will go to a full renovation of Peavy Park.

With a large amount of funding going to public safety, 51% of the general fund, investments include new tasers and case management software for the police department, new thermal imaging cameras, new extrication tools and continued EMT training and certification for the fire department.

Finally, the city is considering a planning study in hopes of designing and providing a public transit program. 

Another public hearing is scheduled for June 9 at noon at Warner Robins City Hall, 700 Watson Boulevard. The city will adopt the finalized budget at its June 15th meeting and it will go into effect on July 1.

A look at Monday’s public hearing is available on the city’s Facebook page.