Friday, July 11, 2003

Palmetto's $6.6 million budget gets OK

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
Special to The Citizen

The numbers have been crunched and squeezed, redistributed and neatly stacked until they are sitting evenly balanced across Palmetto's new city budget.

With only an 8 percent increase in expenditures, the City Council passed its 2003-2004, $6.6 million dollar budget Monday night.

The budget went into effect July 1 by a unanimous vote with the exception of Councilman Bill Burnham who was absent due to illness.

Bill Shell, city administrator said there were "not any drastic changes" in the budget this year.

The millage rate will remain steady at 4.5 mills for the time being. After more input from Coweta County, it could change in November, Shell said.

With some expenditures going to the upkeep of computers, a capital outlay of $30,000 for building remodeling is a new expense.

Small increases in salaries for police officials and city workers take into account the continued rise of the cost of goods and services.

Sales of electricity are projected to grow by almost $400,000. Water and sewage will also bring in a good share of money.

More revenue is expected from various taxes such as ad valorum and insurance premium tax. Building permit fees are looking to double in the coming year.

"It's a difficult equation to solve but one that Mr. Shell was equal to," said Councilman John Farr. Farr thanked Shell for the "excellent job" he did on this year's budget.