Wednesday, September 12, 2001
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Wednesday, September 12, 2001 |
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PTC Council adopts $23.2 million budget; projected millage hike to shrink a little
By JOHN
MUNFORD
The Peachtree City Council adopted its 2002 budget, to the tune of $23.2 million, at last week's council meeting. The budget will require a millage rate increase from the current 3.83 mills. Officials originally said the millage would be raised to 4.35, which would cost approximately $40 for a home with a fair market value of $200,000. But the city's tax digest came in recently, allowing the increase to be somewhat lower, at 4.315, representing a 12.5 percent increase over the current millage. To adopt that lower millage rate, three special public meetings of council will be held: Thursday, Sept. 20 at 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. Each meeting will be held at City Hall. City Manager Jim Basinger said he felt the arduous budgeting process "resulted in the absolute minimum millage increase." He added that it will help build the city's cash reserves, a facet strongly urged by city officials. Councilman Steve Rapson said he felt the budget didn't need a millage increase. Rapson and Councilman Dan Tennant voted against the budget for that reason although it passed 3-2 with affirmative votes from Mayor Bob Lenox and councilwomen Annie McMenamin and Carol Fritz. The budget originally presented to council earlier this year was cut by approximately $870,000. The main reasons for the budget hike were meeting goals for the cash reserve and the acquisition of Drake Field, which was owned by Pathway Communities and was zoned for commercial use. 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. Rapson said he doesn't see the need to increase the city's millage this year. But other council members have said holding off on a property tax increase could mislead the public as voters prepare to vote on the city's proposed projects in the bond referendum. Some of those projects, such as the $2.6 million community center, will increase the city's operating budget and in turn require millage increases.
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