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PTC tax hike to pay for bigger library?

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@thecitizennews.com

Ten new full-time employees, including three firefighters and three police officers, are proposed in the early version of Peachtree City’s budget for the 2004-2005 fiscal year.

City officials say the budget will require a property tax increase of 0.26 mills, the amount needed to fund the city’s payments on the 15-year bond voters approved to expand the city library.

The budget will be discussed at a public workshop meeting of the City Council Thursday at 6 p.m. at City Hall. At that time, it should become more clear if council is willing to approve the new staff positions, which would add another $570,000 to the final budget.

Even without the new positions, the city’s general fund budget would increase by 4.13 percent under the proposed budget, officials said. If all the new positions are approved, that increase would jump to 6.96 percent, according to city figures.

Police, fire and emergency services accounts for a combined 42 percent of the city’s general fund budget.

Of the proposed $21.5 million budget, almost half ($10.3 million) would be paid in salaries for full-time employees.

The public improvement program accounts for $4.92 million in the budget, including $1.98 million in carryover funds from this fiscal year and $1.08 million in carryover grants from uncompleted projects.

According to a memo from City Manager Bernie McMullen, the city’s financial picture is fairly rosy due to several factors.

Revenues for this year are on target to exceed projections by $565,000; general fund expenses are projected to be $1.2 million less than the budgeted amount for this fiscal year; and business (occupational) taxes and recreation fees have also been raised, McMullen noted.

The additional staffers recommended to council include:

 Three firefighters, which will increase each shift to 13 personnel; this will allow two firefighters to operate the department’s tower truck when needed;

 An assistant fire marshal to increase the frequency of fire inspections in commercial and industrial buildings;

 Three police officers to meet the needs of increasing commercial and retail development and auto accident response;

 A staff assistant in administrative services to help with court support and additional duties;

 A purchasing agent to assist all operational divisions of the city;

 And a maintenance technician for public works to handle increased landscaping requirements due to the continued development of the city and beautification of city streets.

Also, a part-time planning assistant is proposed to help the city planner with updates to the city’s comprehensive plan.

The proposed budget also increases the city’s cart path supplies by 35 percent, McMullen noted in his memo to council.