One of the latest versions of Peachtree City’s proposed budget for the 2008 fiscal year was lowered to show no millage rate increase for the coming year.

City staff cut a number of projects and purchases to reach that level and plan to use more money from the city’s “excess” cash reserve fund to balance this version of the budget, it was noted at Thursday night’s City Council budget workshop.

Council also looked at adding six new firefighter/paramedics and up to three more police officers, which would wipe out the gain and bring back an additional millage rate increase unless other items are cut from the budget. Council also asked staff to provide another round of cuts to help make up the difference.

The budget will be discussed again at a special called meeting at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall tonight.

The latest round of cuts included $95,000 for two cart path extension projects: one that would bypass the Cedarcroft subdivision where the path currently runs directly through it, and the Redwine Road connector from Foreston Place to the Preserve; $47,000 for a new command vehicle for the fire department; $45,000 to re-seal the exterior of City Hall, and one new vehicle each from the code enforcement and building departments.

The budget with no millage increase also calls for the use of an additional $70,000 in funds from the city’s excess cash reserve fund, bringing the total to $687,000. The city has decided to reduce that fund to be just 20 percent of the total expected annual expenditures.

Also the city factored in an estimated $153,000 in additional revenue from impact fees from pending construction of a senior luxury apartment complex in south Peachtree City.

Combined, the cuts and additional funds reduced this version of the proposed city budget by $461,000.

City Finance Director Paul Salvatore also pointed out that the city is also getting two one-time windfalls this year since it will not have to pay $237,000 for the annual payment for emergency 911 services because the county will use its reserve funds this year and $200,000 in the refund from the aborted construction of the TDK road extension.

Another change proposed by staff is the addition of a fingerprint analysis system for the police department in the current year budget using funds left over from staff vacancies in the police department. The machine allows for fingerprints to be analyzed instantly and compared to various databases of law enforcement agencies. Without it the city would need another agency to conduct the service or send fingerprint cards to the GBI, which could take several months to be processed, according to Police Chief James Murray.

The equipment was originally pushed back to the 2009 budget year before the change was made.