Friday, October 12,
2001
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Fairburn OKs $11.5 mil. spending plan By JOHN
THOMPSON
Fairburn officials passed their budget for next year, but also said theu would be closely monitoring the sales tax coming into the city. This year's proposed $11.5 million budget is double the city's budget from 1993. City Administrator Tony Cox explained the increase was due to the phenomenal growth that has occurred in the area and said the city's employment force has grown from 50 to 73 in the same time frame. Cox's personal recommendation that was ultimately passed by the City Council was to keep the tax rate at 4.5 mills. Included in this year's budget is a 2.5 percent raise for city employees. The budget does not include a requested three new police officers and also calls for very few new capital requests. Cox said the city receives most of its budget funds from sales tax, and sales tax growth is expected to be only 4 percent next year, instead of the normal 7 percent in a more robust economy. But City Councilman Harvey Melear said he is worried about sales tax collections in light of the economy's dip since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Cox said he would be closely watching the returns coming into the city, and putting off any big purchases until the city discovers if sales tax money is lower than anticipated. The biggest increase in requested funds this year is in city administration, which is up $256,000. Cox said nearly $190,000 of the increase goes to pay for the increased number of inspections the city has to do for developments. The budget passed the council unanimously.
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