Friday, June 24, 2005

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Tyrone budget hearings start Mon.

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

A $5.1 million proposed budget for the Town of Tyrone has not been adopted yet, but it’s already causing a fuss with one resident who is taking issue with the fact that a 15 percent salary increase for the city manager and assistant city manager is proposed, changes to the tennis courts are on the table and additional funds could be spent on Founder’s Day.

Grace Caldwell of Tyrone is among the most vocal who is urging residents to attend the next budget work sessions that will be held next week.

At 6:30 p.m. this Monday and Tuesday, Tyrone Town Council members will weigh in once again on the proposed $5.1 million budget for Fiscal Year 2005-6.

Town Manager Barry Amos and Assistant Town Manager/Clerk Valerie Fowler explained to the Town Council that they know the budget would be the largest in Tyrone’s history, $5,109,343, but there is a good reason.

“The majority of the increase is attributable to the large amount of state assistance that has been secured, $954,102, proposed use of previously collected impact fees, $476,000, and the addition of the transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), $148.000,” staff said.

“The increase in the Town’s overal operation budget is $275,929, with the majority of this increase being in the Public Safety Department, $114,098 (41 percent) and Public Works Department $91,441 (33 percent).”

Residents are invited to attend the sessions that will be held at Town Hall. The budget will be adopted at the Tuesday meeting.