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.
Where are City bids shown?
ll bids are publicly posted on the City of Pooler’s official website as well as on the Georgia Procurement Registry to ensure full transparency and accessibility.
Why can’t the City just issue more traffic citations to raise revenue?
Ultimately, such a targeted approach is illegal, unsustainable, and bad public policy, and Georgia is already acting to stop it. Georgia law, to include pending legislation specifically HB 140, the “End Local Taxation by Citation Act”, limit and scrutinize the use of fines as a revenue source, state agencies can revoke enforcement privileges when abuse is found, and relying on ticketing as a budget strategy is ethically problematic and invites audits, legal action, and loss of public trust. Public safety remains a top priority for the City, and the Police Department will continue to enforce all laws and issue traffic citations where appropriate.
What does the $1.5 million for public safety include?
he $1.5 million allocation is for the replacement of public safety vehicles. Many vehicles in the current fleet date back to 2016 and/or have surpassed their useful life, making replacement necessary to ensure reliable service and operational readiness. These investments are not intended to increase the size of the current fleet.
Is $250,000 on greenspace adequate?
The $250,000 greenspace allotment is designed as a cumulative fund. Year over year investments into this initiative would allow for these funds to accumulate, allowing for larger future purchases. For example, $250,000 per year over four years would total $1 million, which could be used to acquire a property solely for greenspace preservation
Can the City redistribute SPLOST allocations to the General Fund?
No. By law, SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) funds cannot be specifically “redistributed” to the City’s General Fund. SPLOST revenue must be used exclusively for voter-approved capital projects, as outlined in the intergovernmental agreement and referendum language. For example, the current SPLOST for the City of Pooler totals approximately $65 million over six years (about $10 million per year). If the City were to replace SPLOST funding with General Fund revenue to cover those same capital needs, it would require increasing the millage rate from approximately 4.197 mils to 7.3 mils — a 74% increase — to generate equivalent funding.
How is the Chamber funded?
That is a question for the Chamber. The Pooler Chamber of Commerce is a private-sector, non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the State of Georgia. It operates independently from the City and is not funded through City tax revenues.
Who approves pay raises for city employees?
In accordance with the City of Pooler’s Charter, the Mayor and City Council approve the budget, which includes any pay raises, merit raises and/or cost of living allowances.
What efficiencies has the City implemented in FY 2025 to help reduce costs?
In FY 2025, the City established a targeted efficiency goal of $445,000. As of October 1, 2025, through a combination of contract adjustments and operational changes, the City exceeded that goal, realizing total estimated savings of $455,600 so far in FY 2025. These savings were achieved without impacting levels of service.
What is the accommodations excise tax as referenced on page 14 of the budget, and how is it regulated under Georgia law?
The accommodations excise tax, commonly referred to as the hotel/motel tax, is a 6% tax the City of Pooler collects on rooms or lodging provided to the public by hotels and similar businesses. Under O.C.G.A. § 48-13-51, the City must use 33.3% of the revenue to promote tourism, conventions, and trade shows through a qualified nonprofit organization, known as a destination marketing organization (DMO). These funds are restricted by state law.
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.
Were council members promised any benefits in relation to the establishment of the DDA?
There is no record or indication that any council members were promised benefits in connection with the DDA. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 36-42, all DDA activities are subject to oversight and audit by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to ensure compliance and transparency.
Are DDA board members or directors compensated for their service?
No. Under O.C.G.A. § 36-42-7, board members serve in a voluntary capacity and receive no compensation for their role. Their service is civic in nature and intended to promote public benefit.
Why does the DDA have a paid position, unlike the planning and zoning board, despite the planning board also being volunteer?
It is currently being proposed that the DDA have funding to support a paid position to manage the operational needs of the authority, including administration, legal support, and program oversight. The position is recommended to ensure accountability and focus on successful implementation of the Mainstreet master plan. It is not legally required to have an executive director; hence the state statute does not require an executive director position.
What changed in the budget from $80,000 to $200,000, and can the money be reassigned?
The initial recommendation was for $120,000, the change reflects the inclusion of resources to support training, administrative needs if the DDA is established, including materials and supplies, as well as potential funding for an executive director and/or legal counsel if determined to be required. It should be noted that the existing Development Authority does retain a legal attorney. Training for the directors is required per O.C.G.A. § 36-42. Yes, the proposed funds can be reassigned or reallocated if not used.
Will the creation of the DDA affect the Chamber of Commerce or its funding?
No. The establishment of a DDA operates independently of the Chamber and should not impact the Chamber’s funding or activities.
What are the measurable goals or benefits during the DDA’s first year?
In accordance with O.C.G.A. § 36-42, measurable goals cannot be established until the DDA is formally created by resolution of the governing body. Until that time, the Authority has no legal capacity to conduct business or implement projects and thereby there is not currently any measurable goals or a 1 year action plan. Such plan would be determined by the board established by the resolution.
Does the City of Pooler plan to redirect hotel/motel tax funds currently managed by the Greater Pooler Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA)?
No. State law prohibits redirecting hotel/motel tax funds currently received by the Greater Pooler Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau (specifically Visit Pooler) to any other entity, including the Downtown Development Authority. The City has neither the authority nor any intention to take or redirect these tourism funds. By law, they are restricted solely for tourism-related purposes as referenced in O.C.G.A. § 48-13-51
Can you explain the new line item in the budget for “communications” at a budget of 160,125?
The Communications Coordinator position was first budgeted in FY 2025, and in FY 2026, following the onboarding of the position, it was determined that Communications should be identified as a separate department within the budget to better reflect its growing scope and importance.
Approximately 70% of the total budget, covers salary and benefits associated with the Communications Coordinator position, which manages all communication responsibilities for the City as a one-person department. The remaining 30% of the budgeted funds are for operating expenses such as fees for the necessary communications programs, camera equipment, and sound equipment, as well as software, professional memberships, training, licensing, advertising, and other supplies.
See page 4 from the FY 2025 budget or reference.