Peachtree City begins Fiscal Year 2026 budget process

By: Kim Learnard, Peachtree City Mayor

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It’s budget time in Peachtree City! 

On April 3, the Mayor and City Council will have our first public work session to discuss budget priorities for the coming fiscal year. Our objective at City Hall is to provide quality services efficiently and transparently. 

> Today, I invite you to be a part of the process! The more citizen input and engagement we receive, the more City Hall can assure the budget reflects your priorities. Join us this Thursday, April 3 at 9:30 a.m. in the Frances Meaders Council Chambers for our first work session.

Below I’ve answered common questions about the annual budget and outlined my key priorities for Fiscal Year 2026.

What is the timeline for crafting and adopting the budget?

Budget discussions start with the Mayor and City Council members discussing priorities for the coming year and sharing those priorities with the City Manager for his consideration in crafting the budget. This is always done in public meetings. 

In 2025, we started those conversations in our February Leadership Retreat. We will continue our budget discussion with the first Work Session on April 3, and again in at least one Budget Workshop in June (TBA). Peachtree City’s fiscal year begins October 1, so budget discussions, work sessions, public hearings and adoption take place every summer. 

Who creates the city budget?

Our City Manager, Justin Strickland, is tasked with creating the budget. City Ordinance 34-61 specifies that: “The proposed budget shall be prepared by the chief administrative officer and transmitted to members of the mayor and council for its review a minimum of 30 days before the required date of adoption.”  

What’s next in the process?

Once the Mayor and City Council have shared our priorities and provided the City Manager with general direction (in our Leadership Retreat, Work Session, and Budget Workshops as enumerated above), the City Manager meets with his department heads over a period of several weeks to create the budget in detail. Ultimately, the budget is the City Manager’s testament to what he needs to run the city for one year.

When can I see the proposed budget?

Typically it will be in June. In accordance with state law, when the budget is shared with City Council, it is also shared with the public. We post it on our city website, make it available for review in city hall, and publicize its availability.

How is the budget formally adopted?

The Mayor and City Council hold a vote to adopt the budget in August.

How do Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) dollars impact the budget?

SPLOST dollars are extremely impactful but SPLOST 2017, SPLOST 2023 and our annual budget are three separate buckets of money. Fayette County SPLOST dollars are divided among the municipalities based on population, with each city identifying its own group of capital projects. 

Peachtree City’s 2017 SPLOST list included 39 projects. There are eight projects left. We have $11,849,281 in the 2017 SPLOST, and the estimated cost for the eight remaining projects is less than that, at $10,355,705. We are moving forward with these projects. 

You can view the status of the 2017 SPLOST projects here. For updates on the 2023 SPLOST, click here.

What are the Mayor’s budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2026?

During my tenure as mayor, I have stayed true to my focus on tax relief, public safety, traffic improvements, and recreation. And our city is making great strides because of it: 

• Last year, we lowered the millage rate from 6.043 to 5.983. 

• The city has a $31.5 million rainy day fund. 

• A record investment is underway at the Highway 54/74 intersection, with a $19 million GDOT-funded traffic improvement project. 

• Peachtree City is one of the Top 5 safest cities in Georgia. 

• We are updating and expanding our recreation offerings.

To keep the momentum going in the coming year, these are my FY 2026 priorities:

Public Safety

Public safety will always be my top budget priority. We will ensure first responders are expertly trained in response and recovery, and that we provide them the vehicles, technology and equipment they need to do their jobs. 

Traffic Improvements

Traffic solutions are again a top priority with historic projects underway and more on the horizon. But it’s not just about investing dollars—we also need smart planning so we don’t create more traffic woes. 

Recreation

We will continue the much anticipated work of revitalizing and adding recreation facilities. City Hall will prioritize key projects in the new Recreation Master Plan that already have a certain amount of funding identified. This includes new pickleball courts, upgrades and restrooms at Battery Way Park, a park and Veterans Plaza on Kelly Drive, restrooms at Drake Field, and construction of a second splash pad. 

Tax Relief & Fiscal Restraint

As we invest in our future, we will make all budget decisions based on what provides the most value to the taxpayer.