Warner Robins releases proposed budget for FY 2026

WARNER ROBINS — The City of Warner Robins is preparing its budget for fiscal year 2026 and held a public hearing on June 16, with several strategies and initiatives in mind.

City Administrator James Drinkard said that the upcoming budget is affected by the passage of House Bill 581, which introduces a statewide homestead tax exemption. Additionally, property tax valuations will be determined by the upcoming county tax digest and the state Consumer Price Index, currently just under 3%.

“Exactly how that’s going to play out in this budget cycle is a little interesting; nobody’s exactly sure. So, we have been more conservative than usual in our budget forecasting,” he said.

Drinkard said the budget reflects five strategic guidelines set at the city’s planning retreat:

• Ensuring a safe and welcoming community
• Improving mobility and connectivity 
• Stimulating economic development and revitalization
• Enhancing the quality of life of all residents 
• Strengthening fiscal stewardship, efficiency, and government effectiveness 

The city anticipates maintaining its current millage rate. Last year, the city rolled it back to 8.953, a historic low.

Drinkard also highlighted that $6.7 million will be dedicated to maintaining and improving city infrastructure, while $25.3 million has been set aside for future prioritized capital investments; $2.7 million will be reserved for expanding services across city departments.

According to the draft budget, city priorities crafted through citizen feedback include:

• Enhancements to street and stormwater infrastructure
• Public safety and code enforcement response improvements
• Recreation facility improvements
• Continued beautification efforts

The proposed budget totals $179.8 million, which includes $74.7 million from the general fund. Of the general fund balance, 53% is allocated to public safety, 22% is designated for general government, and the remaining 25% is divided among public works, city development, recreation, and the judicial system.

According to council documents, property taxes are expected to account for 63% of general fund revenue, while sales and use taxes are projected to contribute nearly 21%.

The proposed budget shows increases for public safety and public works. Drinkard explained that the rise is due to higher costs for fuel and materials, as well as efforts to fill vacancies in the police department.

Drinkard envisioned a multi-year financial strategy, looking ahead to ensure sustainable growth and stability.

“Most cities do it one year at a time. What we want to get to is three to five year budget planning with a one year budget adoption. So, we can look longer term and be more effective in how we’re investing your tax dollars,” he said.

He also mentioned combining finance into a single department and conducting a mid-year review of the current fiscal year.

“Six months into the budget cycle, we’re going to do another deep dive into the budget. We’re going to look at how our revenues are tracking. We’re going to look at where our costs are tracking, and we’re going to look for projects that either have been completed and there’s money remaining, or areas of the budget where we thought we had a strategic need for something, but that money hasn’t been spent yet,” he explained.

Proposals for changes will be presented at the next council retreat, aiming to overcome the perception of slow government.

“We don’t want to be that stereotypical slow moving, bloated government. We want to be nimble. We want to be fast, and that means capture the funds that aren’t being effectively used and put them towards needs and purposes so that we are moving forward,” Drinkard said.

The first reading of the budget was during the city’s June 16 council meeting. Additional public hearings are scheduled for June 30 at noon. Council will vote to pass the budget at its next meeting, scheduled for June 30 at 5 p.m., at City Hall, 700 Watson Boulevard.

A complete look at the budget can be found at wrga.gov/article/2272058.