By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Keeping taxes down will be at the forefront of discussion as the Fayette County Commission continues a series of budget workshops this week.

Commissioners dug into the $57.5 million proposed budget in the first of five workshops after press time last night.

Another session is scheduled 4 - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, breaking up in time for the commission's regular business meeting at 7. The first of two public hearings on the budget will be conducted at the 7 p.m. meeting. The workshops are open to the public as well, but public comment usually is not accepted.

In early drafts, the proposed budget anticipates a 1.6-mill tax increase, which would add about $113 to the tax bill on a $200,000 home.

But there has already been some good news on the tax front, as cost figures for a new jail and courthouse came in lower than anticipated, at $55.25 million. Debt payments on the jail will be under $4 million a year, as opposed to the $4.25 million figure used in calculating the tax increase in the budget.

On the other hand, upward pressure on taxes may come from the Atlanta Regional Commission's insistence that all counties in the region commit to paying proportionate shares of the regional Transportation Improvement Plan. Federal agencies are withholding transportation funding for the entire region to get counties to commit to the plan, which is designed to improve air quality in the region.

Fayette would have to plug an additional $280,000 into the 2001 budget, and $3.6 million a year into future budgets, if the county agrees to the three-year plan.

“That's a lot of money for Fayette County,” said Commissioner Greg Dunn as he pored over the budget figures in preparation for this week's meetings.

He said commissioners will be looking for every way possible to hold the line on taxes, and predicted that the county will be able to reduce the projected increase, but may not be able to cut it by much.

“This is really a tough budget year,” he said. “The staff came in several times and reduced its requests. It's going to be hard to find fluff in this one.”

In addition to the meetings last night and tomorrow, commissioners will have workshops:

” June 14 from 1-4 p.m.;

” June 19 from 9 a.m. to noon;

” June 22 from 4 - 6:30 p.m. If needed, a meeting also will be scheduled for June 21 from 3 - 6 p.m.

Following the June 22 workshop, commissioners will have the second required public hearing during their 7 p.m. meeting, with plans to act on the budget at that time.