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James BurgessAshburn City Council

James Burgess for Ashburn City Council

City Budget

First, the city

Before the budget, what the City of Ashburn government is and what it runs. A mayor and five council members set policy and adopt the budget. A city manager runs things day to day.

The size of it

People in the cityabout 4,2004,211 in the 2025 Census estimate, in about 1,800 households. 4.6 square miles.
On city waterabout 5,2005,176 people, per the EPA. City water reaches past the city limits.
City streets34 miles34.15 miles on the state's road-grant list, 2026–27.
City workers56 full-timePlus 6 part-time, as the city reported to the state in 2022, the latest public count.

What the city runs

Mayor and Council

A mayor and five council members pass ordinances, set tax rates and adopt the budget.

Set by the city charter, Sec. 2.10
City Manager and City Clerk

Runs the city day to day and keeps the official records.

In 2026, one person holds both jobs.
Finance and Utility Billing

Sends the utility bills, runs payroll and keeps the books.

Municipal Court

Hears city ordinance cases and many traffic tickets.

2 employees in 2022.
Police

Patrol, traffic and investigations. Part of the city's combined Public Safety Department.

20 officers, per a 2022 council work session.
Fire

Fires, medical calls, rescues and crashes. Also part of Public Safety.

2 stations. ISO Class 2, per the fire chief, which helps keep insurance rates down.
Public Works and Streets

Streets, parks, cemeteries, city buildings and the vehicle fleet.

34 miles of city streets.
Water, Sewer and Gas

City wells, the sewer plant, and a natural gas and propane system, serving the city and parts of the county.

A member of the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia.
Sanitation

Garbage pickup, done by a contractor the council hires.

Express Disposal took over in April 2026.
Senior Nutrition

A hot noon meal five days a week at the senior center.

The city took it over in the 2026–27 budget after regional funding ended.
Run by Turner County, not the city: EMS ambulances, 911 dispatch, the sheriff and jail, and recreation. Ashburn pays the county for 911 service.

Where the money went

Where the General Fund went, July 2019 to June 2020

$4.36 million in all. This is the latest audit anyone can see; newer years aren't public.

Police$1.7M
Public works$1.4M
General government (City Hall, council, finance)$606,530
Fire$460,158
911 service, paid to the county$124,948
Health and welfare$26,000
Community development$13,378

Water and sewer, 2019–20

Brought in from customers$1.6M
Cost to run (before wear and tear)$1.0M

Natural gas, 2019–20

Brought in from customers$1.1M
Cost to run (before wear and tear)$671,995

Gas sent $100,000 to the General Fund that year.

Where these numbers came from
  1. City of Ashburn charter, Sec. 2.10 (Code of Ordinances)
  2. City of Ashburn, departments
  3. City of Ashburn Financial Report, year ended June 30, 2020 (latest public audit)
  4. Georgia DCA, 2022 Municipal Wage and Salary Survey: participants and total employees
  5. U.S. EPA, Safe Drinking Water Information System, Ashburn water system GA2870000
  6. Georgia DOT, Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant list, FY2027
  7. U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates; ACS 2020–2024
  8. Turner County and Cities Comprehensive Plan, 2026
  9. City of Ashburn budget hearing minutes, June 24, 2026

That's the city. Next, what it plans to spend. →

Compiled from public records as of October 22, 2026. Sales tax figures are unaudited state payment records; audits are the official word on what the city spent. For anything official, call City Hall at (229) 567-3431.

Paid for by James Burgess