FY25 Budget Approved

The Fiscal Year 2025 Budget was approved by the Mayor and Commission during the June 5, 2024 Regular Session meeting. A recording of the meeting can be viewed on YouTube, with the Taxpayer Bill of Rights public hearing starting at the 8:21 minute mark and Mayor & Commission discussion starting at 3:52:14.

Budget documents will be finalized in the coming days and can be viewed at www.accgov.com/budget.

Juneteenth

The Athens community is invited to acknowledge, celebrate, and honor Juneteenth on Saturday, June 15 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. 

The celebration, hosted by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement in partnership with ACCGov's Inclusion Office, begins with community speakers at City Hall in front of the Juneteenth Flag, followed by a march to College Square for a block party including a DJ, live music performances, community speakers, a fashion show, a community resource expo, food vendors, and more.

Note that ACCGov departments and offices will have schedule and service changes due to the observed Juneteenth holiday on Wednesday, June 19. General administrative buildings will have closures, while Animal Services, Leisure Services, Solid Waste, and Transit will have changes to their schedules. For full details, visit www.accgov.com/news closer to the holiday.

Foster Over the 4th

Volunteer fosters are needed for the Foster Over the 4th program to shelter pets in need from the Adoption Center during the July 4 holiday and the weekend of June 29-30 (when the Star Spangled Classic takes place).

Animal Services supplies all fosters with a crate/carrier, food, bowls, and a leash/collar. All dogs and cats eligible for fostering must be current on rabies vaccines and spayed/neutered, if old enough.

Those interested in participating should first fill out a foster application, which includes uploading a required video tour of the potential foster home, at www.accgov.com/fosterapet.

Contact the Animal Services Department at 706-613-3540 with any questions.

HCD FY26-30 Consolidated Plan

ACCGov’s Housing & Community Development Department (HCD) is seeking public comment on the proposed goals and strategies for the Fiscal Year 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan.

The Consolidated Plan is a five-year plan that includes a community needs assessment, resource review, and gaps analysis. This plan is required by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to help communities determine where Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships funding may fill the gap for development of affordable housing, economic development, public services, public facilities and improvements.

Residents have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed FY26-30 Consolidated Plan goals through in-person community meetings (schedule listed at www.accgov.com/hcd) or by email (HCD@accgov.com) or phone at 706-613-3155 through June 23.

Stormwater Fee Increase

Many homeowners will see an increase to their annual Stormwater Utility Fee bills after July 1, 2024.

The increase for an average residential bill is around $14 per year. This will be the first rate change for the stormwater fee since it was implemented in 2005. Until 2005, stormwater programs were funded through property taxes. With a utility fee, however, owners of tax-exempt properties such as churches, nonprofits, and UGA also pay into the fund, which can only be used for stormwater programs.

More details about the program and new fees are available online at www.accgov.com/stormwater. 

The ACCGov Mixtape is distributed monthly by the Public Information Office, accgov.com/pio, 706-613-3795