No vote has been taken on the budget yet. A public hearing is scheduled for October 6, 2026, and adoption is expected at the November 8, 2026 City Commission meeting.
Cornelia city commission releases draft FY2027 budget with $788,769 General Fund shortfall
The draft budget proposes higher sanitation and water/sewer fees for residents while spending across the city's nine funds totals more than $28 million.
September 22, 2026: Railroad Crossing Elimination Project (federally funded)
A public hearing is scheduled for October 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM at City Hall, with adoption expected at the November 8, 2026 City Commission meeting.
At a glance
What this means now
The story
The Cornelia City Commission has put out a draft FY2027 budget covering nine funds with total expenditures of $28,062,546. The General Fund alone shows expenditures of $8,673,769 against projected revenues of $7,885,000, a shortfall of $788,769.
The draft calls for fee increases in two utility funds. The Sanitation Fund would rise $28,000, driven mainly by the collection contract and by landfill fees that double to $20,000, alongside a 5% fee increase. The Water and Sewer Fund proposes a 5.5% increase in water and sewer fees.
Other funds in the draft include $194,175 in LMIG Fund money going entirely to paving, a Storm Water Utility Fund that would put $260,000 toward the Myrl Street Drainage Project along with an audit of storm water fee collections, a Community House Fund supported by rising rental revenue, and $1,000,000 for the federally funded Railroad Crossing Elimination Project.
No vote has been taken on the budget yet. A public hearing is scheduled for October 6, 2026, and adoption is expected at the November 8, 2026 City Commission meeting.
What happened
How this issue got here
Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.
Appeared on agendaproposedSanitation Fund budget, collection contract and landfill fees, 5% fee increase
Sanitation Fund ($528,000): up $28,000, mainly for the collection contract and
for landfill fees, which double to $20,000.
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Sanitation Fund budget, collection contract and landfill fees, 5% fee increase
Sanitation Fund ($528,000): up $28,000, mainly for the collection contract and for landfill fees, which double to $20,000.
Appeared on agendaproposedFY2027 proposed budget, all nine funds
it covers nine funds with total expenditures of $28,062,546.
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FY2027 proposed budget, all nine funds
it covers nine funds with total expenditures of $28,062,546.
Appeared on agendaproposedGeneral Fund budget and shortfall / millage rate decision for FY2027
General Fund expenditures of $8,673,769 exceed projected
revenues of $7,885,000, leaving a shortfall of $788,769.
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General Fund budget and shortfall / millage rate decision for FY2027
General Fund expenditures of $8,673,769 exceed projected revenues of $7,885,000, leaving a shortfall of $788,769.
Appeared on agendaproposedLMIG Fund paving budget
LMIG Fund ($194,175): the state's Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant
and supplemental LMIG grant, all of it going to paving.
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LMIG Fund paving budget
LMIG Fund ($194,175): the state's Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant and supplemental LMIG grant, all of it going to paving.
Appeared on agendaproposedPublic hearing and adoption schedule for FY2027 budget
A Public hearing is scheduled for October 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM at City Hall, and adoption
is expected at the November 8, 2026, City Commission Meeting.
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Public hearing and adoption schedule for FY2027 budget
A Public hearing is scheduled for October 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM at City Hall, and adoption is expected at the November 8, 2026, City Commission Meeting.
Appeared on agendaproposedWater and Sewer Fund budget including 5.5% fee increase
a 5.5% increase
in water and sewer fees
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Water and Sewer Fund budget including 5.5% fee increase
a 5.5% increase in water and sewer fees
Appeared on agendaproposedStorm Water Utility Fund budget: Myrl Street Drainage Project, fee audit, and Master Plan
It funds the Myrl Street Drainage
Project ($260,000) and an audit of the Storm Water Utility Program to confirm the City
is collecting the correct fee amounts.
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Storm Water Utility Fund budget: Myrl Street Drainage Project, fee audit, and Master Plan
It funds the Myrl Street Drainage Project ($260,000) and an audit of the Storm Water Utility Program to confirm the City is collecting the correct fee amounts.
Appeared on agendaproposedCommunity House Fund budget
Community House Fund ($105,000): fully supported by rental revenue, which
is projected to rise from $85,000 to $105,000.
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Community House Fund budget
Community House Fund ($105,000): fully supported by rental revenue, which is projected to rise from $85,000 to $105,000.
Appeared on agendaproposedRailroad Crossing Elimination Project (federally funded)
$1,000,000 for the Railroad Crossing Elimination Project, which is fully funded by a
federal grant.
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Railroad Crossing Elimination Project (federally funded)
$1,000,000 for the Railroad Crossing Elimination Project, which is fully funded by a federal grant.
Research the record