Fulton County finance staff on Dec. 3 outlined a proposed fiscal 2026 operating budget that assumes a $232.7 million carryforward, roughly $996 million in total revenue and $1.053 billion in expenditures, yielding a projected ending fund balance that meets the county’s reserve policy. The county’s revenue assumptions include a 3.11% growth in the digest and a 95.2% collection rate; under those inputs staff gave a starting millage estimate of about 9.26 mils.

CFO Whitmore and the county manager told the commission the proposal also includes an initial $32 million property‑tax allocation to address work tied to the federal consent decree over jail conditions, but warned the board that consent‑decree‑related costs could rise and be added in January. Staff said they will return on Jan. 7 with updated FY2025 actuals and any additional consent‑decree recommendations so the board can finalize a millage assumption.

Commissioners pressed staff on scenarios if additional consent‑decree costs materialize. Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr. asked for an estimate if the consent‑decree figure rose to $60 million; staff said that could push the millage rate higher (roughly into the mid‑9s mils, depending on other adjustments). Commissioner Carissa Barrett and others urged the administration to publish clearer scenario work so residents can compare options — for example, what the millage rate would be with the full consent‑decree estimate included, with different levels of programmatic enhancements, or with and without a 1% across‑the‑board reduction proposed in staff planning.

Several commissioners also used the budget discussion to press for more detailed line‑item transparency in the proposed book, asking staff to show the community how non‑agency balances and one‑time items are being treated. Staff replied that agencies will work with analysts to identify where a 1% reduction could be absorbed and that the board would see programmatic tradeoffs during the January budget sessions.

No final budget or millage rate was adopted at the meeting. Staff said they will return in early January with a revised proposal reflecting final FY2025 results and any new consent‑decree costs or other operational changes noted by commissioners.