AUGUSTA, Ga. – With a daunting $20 million budget deficit looming over Augusta, the path to approving the 2026 financial plan is fraught with challenges, and other municipal matters aren’t making it any simpler.

“We’re determined to get to work. I can’t say how long it will take, but we are committed to finding a solution,” stated Commissioner Francine Scott, setting the tone for what would be an intense session of city governance.

Before tackling the budget, city leaders delved into a four-hour legal session, a necessary but time-consuming endeavor, before returning to the task at hand: the budget crisis.

City Administrator Tameka Allen presented fresh proposals, hoping to find common ground among the commissioners. “One of the proposals involves making further cuts. Additionally, rather than a full mill increase, we’re considering a 0.85 point increase to address some pressing public safety needs,” Allen explained, outlining possible paths forward.

“One of the proposals is additional cuts, as well instead of doing a mill increase maybe a point 85 increase just to take care of some of the public safety needs,” said City Administrator Tameka Allen.

The main reason  for including a tax increase in the budget is the nearly $10 million dollar increase in the Sheriff’s budget, but the Sheriff says all those dollars are needed.

“We have reduced our budget as much as we can without affecting the services we provide to the citizens here in Richmond County,” said Sheriff Eugene Brantley.

Under the proposal reducing the tax increase would increase the proposed spending cuts on departments to five percent and that could cost jobs.

“Our goal is not to lay-off anybody but we do have some that were in the original that we’ve presented to the governing body,” said Administrator Allen.

But the administrator says department heads say a 5 percent cut would result in layoffs.

“I hate that word I hate layoffs and RIF and all kinds of I think we have some wiggle room,” said Commissioner Scott.

After a marathon day, commissioners failed to approve the 2026 budget. The two main sticking points is the the size of the tax increase, or no tax increase, and if they should cut the Sheriff’s budget that’s getting a nearly $10 million dollar increase. They will try again next week.