Sandy Springs projects $6 million increase for General Fund budget
The Sandy Springs City Council heard on May 27 the first presentation of a $131 million FY 2026 General Fund budget that’s $6 million more than its current budget.
City Manager Eden Freeman said the city continues to stay conservative in its revenue projections and in its expenditures.
“We always overestimate our expenditures and underestimate our revenues so that we are better prepared for coping with budgeting pressures that may occur during the year,” Freeman said. “It is always my goal to never come back to you during the year and say, ‘Whoops, we need more money.’”
The budget Freeman presented includes a $50 million debt issuance to replace fire stations No. 4 and No. 1 and make an addition to station No. 3. She said the capital budget included $3 million for the station three addition.
Fire Station No. 4 is located in Atlanta at 4697 Wieuca Road NE, two-tenths of a mile south of Sandy Springs city limits, Sandy Springs firefighters stationed there responded to 345 incidents to Atlanta addresses, or 14 percent of the 2,530 calls in 2024. Freeman said that was two percent higher than in 2023. In 2022, only seven percent of station four’s calls were to Atlanta addresses, or 171 incidents.
The budget includes a $511,000 renovation for the Racquet Center and a $200,000 subsidy for the Performing Arts Center for Signature Events, which include Sparkle Sandy Springs, the City Green Live concert series, and the concerts in the Heritage Amphitheater.
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Freeman said the staff projects health insurance for employees will cost $2 million more in 2026 than this fiscal year, reaching $10.84 million.
Councilman John Paulson said the health insurance increase was a significant jump. He asked Freeman when she might bring a proposal to the council to try to save on these costs.
Freeman said a health and benefits administrator position was included in the Human Resources Department budget.
“That position is going to be critical for us as we continue evaluating moving towards a self-funded model,” Freeman said. I’ve already had one meeting with our health insurance broker, and I anticipate, because our health insurance actually doesn’t start until January 1 of each year, we’ll be coming back to you.”
Freeman said since the health insurance plan runs on the calendar year, a self-funded health insurance proposal will be presented that could start in January 2026.
Capital projects for the city’s Public Works Department include $7 million for its pavement program, $3 million for stormwater capital improvements, $2.25 million for improvements at Morgan Falls Athletic Complex, and $2 million for Trail Segment 2C construction. That segment is part of the Springway Trail system and will run from Roswell Road to Morgan Falls Overlook Park along Morgan Falls Road.
Freeman said the budget projects adding seven full-time staff members, with one additional employee each in the finance, human resources, facilities management, police, and fleet management departments. The Performing Arts Center would add two employees. Sandy Springs would have a total of 648 employees funded in the budget.
The city council will hold the first of two public hearings on its budget proposal at 6 p.m. on June 3. The final hearing will be on June 17, after which the council is expected to vote to adopt the budget.
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