Friday, August 24, 2001
Friday, August 24, 2001 |
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Trimmed 2002 budget discussed briefly by PTC Council during public hearing By JOHN MUNFORD
The latest version of Peachtree City's 2002 budget, and its related millage increase, was discussed briefly at Thursday night's City Council meeting. The budget had been cut by council at a previous workshop. That reduced the proposed millage rate from 4.75 (a 23 percent increase) to 4.35 (a 13.3 percent increase). The increase will cost an extra $40 a year to persons owning a home with a fair market value of $200,000. The millage rate, which is used to calculate property taxes, was rolled back last year by council from 4.06 to 3.84 in an effort to avoid a tax increase due to increased property valuations. Mayor Bob Lenox and other council members have characterized that decision as a mistake. Most of the budget cuts this year came from the city's public improvement program. One project was cut from this year: a satellite auto maintenance facility. Also, part of the facility buildout plan was cut, which includes the renovation of City Hall and the Public Works building. Both the satellite auto facility and the renovations will eventually be funded through a long-term financing plan called the Bricks and Mortar program. Projects set for next year which were cut totalled almost $117,000, including the library expansion and $40,000 for playgrounds. Another $40,000 was left in the budget for playgrounds. Council's contingency fund was also reduced $150,000 in the effort to pare down the tax increase. Departmental operating budgets were reduced by more than $75,000. Although Councilman Steve Rapson said he felt the budget is much better than it was before the cuts, he still couldn't support it. "Simply put, I do not think it is necessary to raise the property taxes this fiscal year. Period," Rapson said. The budget will be the subject of several more public hearings before council officially adopts it.
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