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Residents get first look at budget

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
lbianchi@thecitizennews.com

Fairburn will give the public its first look at the city’s 2004-2005 budget Monday at a special City Council public hearing to be held at 4 p.m. at City Hall.

Last year’s budget of $15.4 million achieved revenues of more than 17 percent over the previous year. City Administrator, Jim Williams credits better efforts in collecting money owed the city as well as increases from landfill revenue for the surplus. “We were told by one of the council that last years numbers were unobtainable. We have surpassed that.” Williams said. He also pointed out that this was done with a decrease in the millage rate from 6 to 5.75 mills.

The projected budget for the next year weighs in at $16. 6 million, which Williams says is a conservative estimate.

Williams added that the city has made aggressive capital improvements such as water and sewer lines over the last twelve months, but admitted stiff competition from Comcast and Direct TV have kept the city’s cable and telecommunications business from producing a profit. “When this year is completed we will end up with a surplus of $745,000.” Williams said, adding that the money would go into the city’s reserve fund.