Friday, December 6, 2002
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Friday, December 6, 2002 |
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Budget showdown is Dec.17 By JOHN
THOMPSON
Coweta County's proposed budget for next year features no tax increase and only a modest personnel increase. That's the word finance director Rick Smoot gave the Coweta County Commissioners during Tuesday's meeting. The $33.7 million general fund budget includes a 2.5 percent cost of living adjustment for county employees, along with the state mandated cost of living increases for Constitutional officers. In this year's budget requests, Sheriff Mike Yeager had requested 18 new positions and 18 vehicles. Smoot said his recommendation is for six new deputies and eight cars, which could set up a skirmish between the sheriff and the County Commission during budget hearings. Smoot also cut the Fire Department's personnel requests in half. While fire officials asked for six new firefighters, Smoot said he could only support three new positions. The finance director also suggested that capital equipment be purchased from the county's reserve fund. He recommended transferring $1.5 million from the general fund balance at the end of the year to buy the equipment, such as a new pumper and tanker for the fire department. Also included in this year's budget is $10,000 each for the Senoia and Grantville libraries. The commissioners thanked Smoot for his work on the budget and set a public hearing on the document for 4 p.m. Dec. 17.
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