Roswell City Council: FY2027 Budget Workshop (November 6, 2026)

The City of Roswell City Council held its FY2027 Budget Workshop on November 6, 2026, to review the proposed budget ahead of its first reading on November 9, a second workshop on November 20, and planned adoption on December 7. The proposed general-fund operating budget is approximately $125.9 million, with $25.7 million in capital requests currently unfunded. The proposed tax rate is 6.232 mills (5.049 for operations and 1.183 for debt service); proposed utility adjustments include 4% increases for solid waste and stormwater, while a 6% water-rate increase beginning July 2027 was previously approved. Council discussed the projected draw on fund balance and reserve policy, rising debt service and employee health costs, and requested additional historical budget and revenue analyses. No budget adoption or procurement award was made at the workshop; the only recorded vote was unanimous approval to enter a closed session.

Procurement and capital discussions included a planned $4 million fleet replacement program, approximately $1.5 million for a fire pumper, $275,000 requested for transportation mowing services, and an unfunded $150,000 recreation and parks master plan. Police staff described an RFI for a computer-aided dispatch system and a proposed real-time crime center that could receive a $1 million grant, with an estimated additional $850,000 to be considered. Staff also plans to renew engineering on-call contracts and develop unit-price contracts; bids for water-tank maintenance were under review for later council consideration. The city reported GDOT commitments totaling about $35 million for corridor bridges, including a planned $20.2 million four-lane Big Creek Parkway bridge, while Roswell remains responsible for $2.5 million in bridge-aesthetic work. Council requested follow-up information on parking revenue assumptions and comparable city rates, fleet and take-home vehicle policies, recreation program costs, and other budget items before further deliberation.