Royston City Council to Vote on Proposed FY26 Budget Tonight

The Royston City Council will hold one more public hearing this evening before voting on whether to pass the proposed FY26 budget.

The public hearing will take place at 5:15 p.m. just before the Council’s regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Royston is looking at a total General Fund budget for FY26 of just over $3.3 million, an increase of $94,763.

That includes a 16.8% decrease in the Water/Sewer Fund for a total FY26 of over $1.6m.

Royston’s Natural Gas Fund will see an increase of 2.9% in FY26 for a total expected revenue and expenditure of just over $3.6m.

The Sanitation Fund will decrease by just over 15% in FY 26 for a total anticipated budget of $369,760.

Under Franklin County SPLOST6 funding, which began April 1, 2023, Royston’s share is 7.6% and Franklin County’s share is 73.21%.

Lanier pointed out that their Franklin SPLOST 6 has a fund balance over $900,000 available for projects.

And under Hart County’s SPLOST 6 funding, which began April 1, 2024, Royston receives a fixed amount of $716,800 over six years or 2.4%.

That amounts to a total FY26 SPLOST 6 budget of $653,000.

If passed as proposed, the FY26 budget will go into effect on July 1.

Again, the public hearing on the FY26 budget takes place at 5:15 p.m. this evening at Royston City Hall, and that will be followed by their regular meeting at 5:30 p.m.