COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) – Columbus mayor Skip Henderson presented a $402.5 million budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 at Tuesday’s city council meeting, a plan that includes raises for city employees and retirees while keeping the property tax millage rate unchanged.
The proposed budget represents a 2% increase from the current fiscal year’s $394 million adopted budget. Henderson said the plan relies on growing sales tax revenue and a modestly higher tax digest to fund operations.
Employee raises and pension review
The budget includes a 2% cost-of-living raise for full-time employees and a 1% increase for retirees, effective July 1. Henderson said employees are the city’s “most valuable asset.”
The city is also conducting a formal review of its pension plan through consultants, Aon and NFP. Proposed changes under evaluation include reducing the vesting period from 10 years to five years, lowering the unreduced retirement age to 62 with 30 years of service for general government employees, and adjusting benefit formulas.
Revenue and reserves
The city expects about $7.6 million more in general fund revenue than last year, driven by increases in sales taxes, insurance premium taxes and other fees. The property tax millage rate remains unchanged…