South Fulton residents next week have their last shot at speaking out on this year's Fulton County budget.

The county Board of Commissioners will conduct the last of its 2001 public budget hearings next Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Government Assembly Center at 141 Pryor St., Atlanta.

During October, the board had eight other public hearings in various locations throughout Fulton to gather taxpayers' input regarding the proposed 2001 general fund budget.

This year's preliminary budget is $553 million, compared to last year's $540 million, said budget director Steve Rapson.

The county's budget must be passed by Jan. 31, he added.

As part of the county's overall financial picture, efforts are expected to be made during the upcoming state General Assembly to address the MARTA funding issue.

The board has agreed that it supports MARTA and the region's clean air initiatives, but believes taxpayers in Fulton and DeKalb counties and the city of Atlanta are unfairly burdened with the costs of the system that benefits the entire metro area.

The board recently supported a resolution that would allow state legislation to restructure the MARTA Board of Directors to allow only those jurisdictions that "substantially and equitably contribute" to the costs of the system to hold seats. It also supports legislation to create a funding mechanism for MARTA that ensures the state and all jurisdictions in the metro Atlanta area share in the costs.

Last year's MARTA operating budget was $331 million. The sales tax contributed $149 million.

The resolution will be forwarded to Gov. Roy Barnes, Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, House Speaker Tom Murphy, each member of the Fulton and DeKalb counties' legislative delegations, the DeKalb County Commission, Atlanta City Council, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, Atlanta Regional Commission and the MARTA board.