The Fayette Citizen-News Page
Wednesday, July 21, 1999
Fayetteville budget approved

By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

Fayetteville's spending plan for fiscal 2000 is now in place, including a slight tax reduction.

If the city's tax digest, a tally of all the taxable property, has grown at the anticipated 7 percent over the last year, property taxes will be reduced by .05 mills from 3.52 mills to 3.47, saving the owner of a $100,000 home about $2 a year.

But officials try to be conservative in their estimates and are hoping for better than a 7 percent growth, said finance director Lynn Raven. “More than likely when the tax digest comes in we might be able to lower [taxes] even more,” she said. The county tax commissioner's office will release those figures toward the end of 1999.

Tax bill this year for a $150,000 home will be about $208, minus any exemptions, said City Councilman Al Hovey-King as the council prepared to adopt the budget Monday night. “I think that's a very reasonable amount to pay,” he said.

Council's stated goal is to eliminate property taxes and run the city on sales taxes, business license fees and other taxes.

The budget anticipates $6.9 million in general operating expenses, up 8.47 percent from fiscal 1999. The budget for water service is $3.3 million; capital projects are projected to cost $279,400 and the city's impact fee fund budget is $233,100 — a total of $10.7 million.

The spending plan includes a $55,000 early principle payment on the city's bonded indebtedness.

In other action during its regular meeting Monday, the City Council:

Approved Brent Scarbrough and Company's low bid of $50,765.35 to move utilities for a realignment of the Jimmie Mayfield Boulevard/Ga. Highway 92 intersection. Redesign and lighting for the intersection have long been on Fayetteville's and the state Department of Transportation's priority lists, and the state recently informed the city that it is ready to begin the work.

The next lowest bid was almost $6,000 higher.

Approved a conditional beer and wine license for new owner Shahnaz Surani for the Texaco Food Mart at 765 N. Glynn St. The license is conditional pending the results of routine police investigations.

Appointed Kathy Erickson of Erickson's Jewelers, on the Courthouse Square, to the city's Main Street Board of Directors. “I'm really looking forward to working on the Main Street board and I think there's a lot of really good things we can do for the city of Fayetteville,” said Erickson.

The Main Street Fayetteville organization works to revitalize the city's downtown area.


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