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PTC criticized for budget tax increase

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The Peachtree City Council was on the defensive again responding to budget questions during a public hearing on the $25.82 million general fund budget Thursday night.

City resident Mark Murphy said he would prefer passing some of the budget savings onto residents’ property tax bills instead of increasing the millage rate just to lessen future millage rate increases.

“I’d like to have it, because if you don’t need it ...” Murphy said, also questioning where the funds to widen MacDuff Parkway will go if it is not deemed necessary.

Those funds, from the countywide Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for transportation improvements, would be spent on other road projects already on the SPLOST list, such as street resurfacing, replied City Manager Bernie McMullen.

Murphy also brought up the council’s recent approval of $8,000 to create public wireless Internet access at three recreation areas. He said he has “never felt the need to take my computer” to a ballpark.

“We can do without a few things,” Murphy said. “I’d like to see some more fiscal responsibility.”

Mayor Steve Brown said the Wi-Fi project, as it is called, is only a one-time cost and will not be recurring. Councilwoman Judi-ann Rutherford noted that if it isn’t used much, the Wi-Fi access points could be moved to serve other city buildings.

The budget, which is tentatively scheduled for a vote at council’s Sept. 1 meeting, is balanced by $1.1 million in reserve funds, officials said.

Councilman Steve Rapson pointed out that the city absorbed increases in pension and healthcare over the past several years and avoided laying off employees, while also providing cost of living increases. The pension, healthcare and dental packages were re-bid, resulting in cost savings, he noted.

The budget also includes roughly $400,000 in new personnel for the city, Rapson said.

“I think we’ve been extremely responsible,” Rapson said.

Brown pointed out that more than $525,000 of the budget is attributable to the library expansion project approved by voters in a referendum.

This year’s proposed budget represents a 4.3 percent increase from last year. Council has already voted to keep the same millage rate, which will result in a net property tax increase for persons whose homes’ assessed values increased.

Peachtree City will reap an additional $342,663 due to the reassessments. Council had the option to “roll back” the millage rate to offset that increase, but chose not to.

The proposed budget includes three full-time positions including a city engineer/project manager, a librarian and a systems specialist for information technology. Two part time positions are also proposed: a library assistant and a staff assistant for the planning department that is being transitioned from a part-time to a full-time role.

The proposed budget includes the use of $1.1 million in cash reserves to balance the books. There are also three full-time positions in the budget, including a city engineer/project manager, a librarian and a systems specialist for information technology. Two part-time positions are also proposed: a library assistant and a staff assistant for the planning department that is being transitioned from a part-time to a full-time role.

City staff has also proposed a $2.97 million budget for the annual Public Improvement Program. The PIP includes:

• $50,000 for architectural design of a new senior citizen’s center, which would be located between The Gathering Place and the offices for the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater. Plans are to build the senior center in 2007 at an estimated cost of $650,000;

• $445,000 for parking improvements and paving at the Riley Field and Meade Field recreation complexes;

• $330,000 to replace 10 police vehicles;

• $401,258 for a new fire rescue pumper truck; and

• $273,736 for a new roof and upgrade to the HVAC system at City Hall.

These projects and purchases will be financed, ranging from a four-year period for the police cars to five years for the pumper truck and 15 years for the other projects.

In 2006, the city plans to spend its $150,000 recreation allotment from the Fayette County Board of Commissioners to build restrooms at Picnic Park, which also includes the All Children’s Playground.

The city also anticipates collecting $2.08 million in SPLOST payments for transportation improvement projects. The city also will receive $487,840 in state grants for the new multi-use paths that will be constructed along Ga. Highway 54 West in the area of the road widening project and for landscape enhancements to Hwy. 54 East.