Wednesday, August 6, 2003
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Wednesday, August 6, 2003 |
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Chances slim for raises for city workers in PTC By J. FRANK LYNCH
Revisions to the first draft of Peachtree City's proposed 2004 budget likely won't include a cost-of-living raise for city employees, even though that was one of the main concerns City Council members expressed when they got their first look at the spending plan in July. Council members will sit down with city staff for a second workshop on the budget Thursday at 5 p.m. in the downstairs conference room at the library, adjacent to City Hall. The budget workshop was originally scheduled for a week from Thursday, but was moved up to handle some scheduling conflicts, said City Manager Bernard McMullen. "Staff has put together the information the council has requested, so we're ready to present it," McMullen said. The estimated $27 million budget proposal, described as "lean" to "bare-bones," doesn't have room for a lot of negotiation, McMullen said. "Our starting points will be the staff's latest recommendation to the council, based on the previous meeting, and then any further reductions in spending that might can be made anywhere," he said. "Right now, there is no cost of living increase," McMullen said. "We could find cost savings to partially fund it, but not fully fund it." A further increase in the tax rate might be the only way to compensate the city's 250 workers, McMullen suggested. "Our recommendation would be that if (city council) wants to go forward with a 1 percent cost of living raise, to fund it by reducing some expenditures further and adding a small increase to the millage." In its first draft, the proposed budget figured on a 0.648 millage rate hike, generating about $1 million, less than the full millage increase city finance officers thought they might need to stay out of the red in 2004. McMullen said there had been no hue and cry from homeowners about the take hike, which would largely make up for a dip in revenues the city used to receive from the county's Local Option Sales Tax distribution. Last year, the city and county reached an agreement that has the city receiving gradually smaller shares of the LOST pie. For 2004, that amounts to $620,000 less than last year, the city has estimated. The tight budget makes approval unlikely for Mayor Steve Brown's suggestion at the July 24 workshop that the city's senior residents be given a homestead exemption. Under Brown's recommendation, homeowners age 65-plus would get an extra $2,000 exemption off the value of their property, a savings of just $9.41 a year based on the current millage. "Some of the council members think that the savings is insignificant, but you have to start somewhere," Brown said. Homestead exemptions are offered by the state, county and school board, but Peachtree City would be the first municipality in the county to provide for it. A public hearing on the 2004 budget remains scheduled for Aug. 21, during which time residents can address the council and city staff about specifics of the plan. Formal adoption of the budget, which takes effect Oct. 1, is expected at the Sept. 4 City Council meeting.
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