Baldwin to unveil proposed 2027 budget at June 16 hearing

BALDWIN, Ga. — Baldwin residents will get their first look at the city’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget during a special called meeting and public hearing Tuesday evening.

The Baldwin City Council will hold its second public hearing on the budget at 6 p.m. June 16 in the Baldwin Municipal Courtroom, 155 Willingham Ave. The meeting marks the first time city officials are expected to publicly present detailed revenue and expenditure figures for the spending plan.

The budget discussion comes as city leaders continue working through financial challenges uncovered during a review of the city’s accounting records earlier this year.

In May, city officials revealed they had discovered accounting gaps dating back to fiscal year 2025 that left Baldwin with significantly less available fund balance than previously believed. The findings prompted city leaders to revisit budget assumptions and reevaluate spending priorities ahead of the new fiscal year.

During a May work session, newly hired Finance Director Angela Adams told council members the city had been operating with incomplete financial information and that staff were working to reconcile accounts and establish more accurate fund balances. City officials said the review uncovered expenditures that had not been properly reflected in prior financial reports.

The council originally planned to review a detailed budget proposal during a June 2 public hearing. However, Adams requested additional time to complete financial analyses and finalize revenue projections, leading officials to postpone the presentation and schedule a second hearing for June 16.

At that meeting, Adams told council members she wanted to ensure the figures presented to the public were accurate and complete before moving forward with budget discussions.

Mayor Doug Faust said at the time that city leaders wanted residents to have a clear understanding of the city’s financial position before any budget decisions were made.

Tuesday’s hearing is expected to provide the first comprehensive look at how the city plans to balance revenues and expenditures for FY 2027 while addressing the accounting issues identified during the financial review.

Among the questions likely to be addressed are the city’s projected revenues, departmental spending requests, capital improvement needs and the status of Baldwin’s reserves.

Council members have previously indicated they do not anticipate major service reductions but have emphasized the need for a realistic budget based on verified financial data.

The June 16 hearing is open to the public, and residents will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed budget before the council moves toward adoption later this month.

The special called meeting and public hearing will begin at 6 p.m. in the Baldwin Municipal Courtroom, 155 Willingham Ave.