The city of Senoia has decided to pass on a potential grant that could have brought two more policeman on the streets.

While the grant would have paid 75 percent of the costs for the officers for three years, the city declined the grant for one simple reason: money.

Last year, the city accepted the grant, but Mayor Joan Trammell said at the last Senoia City Council meeting that the city faces some big expenses in the next year that could put a big bite in the city's budget.

First, the city has committed to building a sewer system and owes Southern Mills $500,000 for the first payment on the newly acquired wastewater treatment plant.

Second, the city is also looking at spending over $100,000 for a radio system since the county informed the city in June that it would no longer handle many of the city's police calls, such as calling in drivers' license checks.

“It [the grant] really is a good program, but I just don't know what we're going to face in the next few months,” Trammell said.

Councilman Robert Hannah agreed with Trammell, but said Police Chief Ben Thomas was wise in trying to anticipate the city's future growth and plan for the additional officers.

Currently, the city has seven officers. A compliment of ten officers is considered full staff and Thomas was hoping to get the officers from the grant program at a reduced rate for the city.

Both Trammell and Hannah said they would be more than willing to apply for the grant next year, if the city's budget allows for it.

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