Friday, April 16, 2004

Fairburn’s budget is on target By LINDSAY BIANCHI lbianchi@thecitizennews.com Fairburn’s fiscal health is in good shape. That’s the assessment of Fairburn City Administrator Jim Williams after he presented a budget summary to the Mayor and City Council Monday at their regular meeting. “Financially we’re in pretty good shape.” Williams said after going over the numbers. With 51 percent of the revenues collected and expenditures at 43 percent, Williams was happy to report that the city did not have to dip into their reserve funds. The city was pleasantly surprised to received a $20,000 community development block grant. The added revenue made the summary process a little tricky, but was a plus to the overall totals. Expenditures for the general fund, $1,976,534 ran behind the revenue total of $2,727,729, about 27 percent. The water and sewer fund was almost 20 percent ahead of expenditures at $1,346,963. The emergency 911 fund was right on budget as was sanitation. Telecommunications was noted to be a problem and a meeting is being scheduled to discuss that area. Major electrical system improvements for new subdivisions in Fairburn were cited as part of the reason for the one percent gain that expenses has over revenues. Expenses for the electrical fund were $1,949,841 with revenues close behind at $2,095,383. The city’s cable and Internet fund was overbudget by $324,000. The report said the money will be reimbursed by bond funds for $119,000 of “other improvement” posted expenditures. The total revenues for the first quarter stand at $7,489,308 while the expenditures come in at $6,422,425, a difference of $1,066,883. After going over the report, the mayor thanked a group of students from Landmark Christian School for attending. A senior citizens walk was announced for April 27 at Grant Park. The mayor said she would be walking and that there would be others with walkers, canes and wheelchairs taking part as well.