SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — The City of Springfield is proposing a $56,559,135 budget for fiscal year 2026, a 384 percent increase over FY 2025’s budget of $11,699,800. 

The dramatic increase is largely due to a planned wastewater treatment plant upgrade, which will support future growth and improve system performance, Springfield City Manager Lauren Eargle said. She said most other increases reflect long-term infrastructure projects rather than routine operating costs.

The final budget public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Springfield Council Chambers, with the city council set to consider adoption immediately afterward. The full FY 2026 budget is available online at springfieldga.org/financial.

Key highlights of the FY 2026 budget:

• Total Budget: $56,559,135, up 384 percent from FY 2025 ($11,699,800)

• Property Taxes: Allot for less than two percent (approximately $950,000); Springfield maintains a 6-mill rate since 2023

• General Fund: $3,963,144 (up from $3,265,790)

• Increase driven by Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG)-funded sidewalk projects and;

• Addition of one full-time and one part-time police officer

• TSPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax): $2,926,026 (up from $1,200,000)

• Local sales tax used for transportation and infrastructure improvements

• Increase reflects rollover of unspent 2025 funds

• Planned projects for 2026:

• Alderman Lane Improvements (Second to Cleveland)

• Improvements along Cleveland, First, and Mars Avenue

• Madison Street sidewalk and parallel parking enhancements

• Zoller Drive sidewalk (Ash Extension to Laurel)

• Traffic signal warrant study at Hwy 21 and Beebe Road

• Water and Sewer Fund: $47,058,852 (up from $4,816,033)

• Largest driver of overall budget increase

• Includes wastewater treatment plant upgrade to prepare for future growth and improve system performance