FY2026 Budget
The City of Pooler is pleased to announce the release of the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for public inspection. The proposed budget is available at the link below, as well as in person at City Hall, located at 100 US Highway 80 SW, Pooler, Georgia, 31322, during normal business hours (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday). We encourage residents to submit comments via email, in writing to the Finance Department, or in person during our upcoming public hearings:
- Monday, November 3, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. (First reading of the budget will follow)
- Monday, November 17, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. (Second reading/final adoption of the budget will follow)
Both hearings will take place at Pooler City Hall, and we invite all interested residents to participate. For the proposed FY2026 Budget and Budget Workshop slides, please visit the links below.
Q&A
Does the Greenspace allocation represent funds available to purchase additional land for preservation?
Yes, the proposed greenspace allocation of $250,000 would be for funds to purchase additional land for preservation.
How much greenspace in the form of recreation space does the City currently own?
The City currently owns over 200 acres of recreation space. These funds represent potential opportunities to secure and preserve additional green space for public use and environmental protection.
Pooler Recreation Complex at 200 Preston Stokes Drive (PIN # 51013 01048) – 87.12 acres
Pooler Recreation Park at 900 S. Rogers Street (PIN # 50009 01019) – 126.72 acres
Please clarify the investment in Public Safety? Is it 3.2M or 3.8M?
The recommendation to support Public Safety is a total of $3.8M. The recommendation is supported by $2M allocation in SPLOST 8 (if approved) and $1.8M allocation from the FY 2026 general fund.
What is planned for drainage improvements, and will an environmentalist be involved in the process?
The $500,000 allocated for drainage improvements will fund hydrological and hydraulic modeling of the City’s drainage basins. This effort will help identify needed upgrades and improvements. An environmentalist will not be directly involved in the modeling effort.
Has the City been submitting grants without hiring a technical writer?
Yes. The City has been preparing and submitting its own grant applications without the use of a hired technical writer. Technical writers are not required for grants, but they’re often highly beneficial, especially for competitive or complex grant proposals. The City of Pooler has applied for 18 grants in FY 2025 using the expertise of our current staff noting again that technical writers are not always required for grants. However, to pursue additional grants we are proposing an allocation to support third part professional grant writing.
See the status of grants applied for in FY 2025, noting that the City has successfully secured over 60% (12/18) of all grant applications submitted.
Can you clarify “Modernized, Family-Friendly Parks & Recreation Planning”?
This funding would support equipment replacement for playground equipment for any of the parks in the City. Ultimately, the funding is intended to enhance the City’s parks and recreation system to ensure facilities are modern, accessible, and family-oriented. The funding level reflects the comprehensive scope of this planning effort.
Does the DDA (Downtown Development Authority) funding include salaries, and what will these funds support
Yes, the funding would support the establishment and operations of a Downtown Development Authority, including the salary of an Executive Director, as determined by the DDA Board. These funds are intended to help launch and sustain the DDA’s work in economic development and downtown revitalization.
What is the $100,000 allocation for “Implementation of Councils/Committees”?
This funding is set aside to help establish volunteer councils or committees, including potential costs for materials, supplies, or administrative support. Any unused funds will be reallocated back to the general fund. The recommendation was made in support of a Youth Council and/or Senior Councils, acknowledging that the formation of specific councils/committees, remains at the discretion of Council based on identified needs and priorities.
Does this plan include salary increases for City of Pooler employees?
Yes, the plan includes a 2.25% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for all employees, along with potential performance/merit increases based on performance evaluations.
How does the FY 2026 budget align with SPLOST 8 recommendations?
The FY 2026 budget aligns with SPLOST 8 requests. The City of Pooler’s Proposed FY2026 Budget focuses on continuing key infrastructure improvements, including roads and drainage, and reflects ongoing commitments within the SPLOST Fund for major transportation projects such as Quacco Road, Pine Barren Road, and Benton Boulevard. The City’s SPLOST 8 proposal aligns with these same priorities namely Public Safety, Roads, Drainage, Recreation, and Civic Investments, demonstrating consistency between the FY2026 Budget and Pooler’s long-term capital investment goals.
Did Mayor and Council exceed their allotted travel budget for FY 2025”?
No, as of 10/ 30/2025, the allotted travel budget has not been exceeded. In addition, there is not a planned increase in the FY 2026 budget for travel for the Mayor and Council.
Did Mayor and Council exceed their allotted training and education budget for FY 2025”?
No, as of 10/30/2025, the allotted training and education budget has not been exceeded. In addition, there is not a planned increase in the FY 2026 budget for training and education for the Mayor and Council.
How was the Pipemakers Canal Improvement Funded?
The Pipermakers Canal Improvement has been completed and was funded by SPLOST 7
How much funding is anticipated to support drainage in the City?
See proposed funding allocations below to support drainage in the City:
- General Fund proposed allocation FY 2026 proposed – $500,000
- SPLOST 8 – $4M proposed allocation
- 4250 – Storm Drainage – $1,669,525
- 4251 – Canal Maintenance – $451,620
See excerpt below from the proposed FY 2026 budget (page 7) and SPLOST 8
How was the “2027 & Beyond” scoring determined for the Long-Term Council Priorities?
The numbering in the presentation does not represent the importance of any specific project. These long-term priorities were developed by City Council during the past two retreats as part of our proactive planning effort for Pooler’s future, hence the “2027 and Beyond” designation. The information was used to gauge which items Council viewed as more pressing as we plan ahead. This effort was a part of the retreat conducted on Monday Sept 15th. The minutes to the retreat were previously posted and can be found at the following link:
Are the budget numbers presented at the budget workshop the final amounts being proposed?
No. The figures shared during the workshop were preliminary and intended for discussion purposes. Since that time, the City has made capital and efficiency reductions, and the final proposed budget reflects those adjustments.
See below as referenced in page 4 of the proposed FY 2026 budget for the final proposed funding.
