Roswell residents have two chances this week to tell city staff how they want their tax dollars spent before the FY2027 budget takes shape.

The city is hosting drop-in budget workshops on Wednesday, July 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Bill Johnson Community Activity Building in Roswell Area Park (10495 Woodstock Road) and Saturday, July 18, from 9 to 11 a.m. at East Roswell Recreation Center (9000 Fouts Road). No registration is required for either session.

Each workshop opens with a short welcome and overview. After that, staff from departments across the city will be stationed around the room to answer questions and hear feedback one-on-one. Both sessions offer the same information, so residents can attend whichever fits their schedule.

Why it matters now

The workshops come two days after the City Council approved a $1.3 million mid-year amendment to the current FY2026 budget on a 4-2 vote at the Monday, July 13, meeting at City Hall.

Councilmembers Sarah Beeson, Eren Brumley, Jennifer Phillippi, and Chris Zack voted yes. Councilmembers Christine Hall and Allen Sells voted no.

The amendment funds public safety staffing, school zone flasher upgrades, a fire drone program, and restored janitorial services at three recreation centers, among other items. Finance Director Adam Novotney, who presented the amendment, described it as budget-neutral, saying every dollar of new spending is offset by higher-than-expected revenue.

Hall, one of the two dissenting votes, pushed back from the dais: "This process needs to have been much more robust, open, transparent and really looked into … where we were on revenues, where we were against budget and where we were on expenses."

City departments had initially submitted 54 requests totaling $7.1 million; leadership recommended roughly $1.3 million in priority investments. Items not funded in the mid-year amendment may be considered during the FY2027 budget process, according to city budget documents.

What's ahead for taxpayers

Public meetings on the millage rate will follow in September, with FY2027 budget meetings continuing in October and early November, according to city budget documents. No FY2027 spending total has been proposed yet.

The next Roswell Mayor and Council regular meeting is Monday, July 27, at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 38 Hill Street. Residents can find more information about the budget process at roswellgov.com/budget.