News | Peachtree City

PTC to vote on cutting budget

Tue, 04/15/2008 - 3:56pm
By: John Munford

Facing a continuing shortage in sales tax revenues, Peachtree City financial staff are recommending changes to save $850,000 from the current budget.

The largest savings is coming from a reduction in the amount the city expects to spend on debt service this year, City Finance Director Paul Salvatore said.

Not only is the interest on those loans smaller than the city had budgeted for, but delaying the loans and purchases will also save money, Salvatore told The Citizen.

Cuts from individual departments, totaling $342,764, came mostly from items such as computer supplies, education and training, office supplies and printing costs.

The financing delays will save $520,000 and another $65,000 will be saved by reducing the city’s contribution to its defined benefit pension. The latter move has been approved by the city’s actuary for the pension fund, according to Salvatore’s memo.

Holding off on the purchases will keep the money in the general fund, Salvatore added. “With the revenue shortfall, it’s an appropriate resource to use for a one-time economic downturn,” Salvatore said.

Also the city is cutting $23,000 in computer purchases across several different departments. And another $81,000 is being saved by leaving the city clerk position unfilled; it is currently being filled by public information officer Betsy Tyler.

All of the cuts will be presented Thursday night to the City Council for a formal vote.

In his memo to the council, Salvatore said the sales tax downturn “appears to be directly related to current economic conditions in the state of Georgia and is not expected to improve in this fiscal year.”

The cuts by division are as follows:

• City Council and City Manager: $6,664

• Administrative Services: $92,544 (includes $81,015 for leaving clerk position vacant)

• Financial Services: $7,992

• Leisure Services: $57,405 (includes recreation and library)

• Developmental Services: $17,043

• Police: $57,723

• Fire/EMS: $63,390

• Public Works: $40,003

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Budgetary Constraints?
Mike King's picture
Submitted by Mike King on Wed, 04/16/2008 - 8:44am.

Let's see now, we save money by not filling vacant spaces which, by the way, cannot be that critical since we have not seen fit to fill them, for how long now? It would seem to me that with the two identified in this post and the two maintenance positions that were not filled because of a new contract for highway grass cutting( we do remember that now), someone in this administration would wake up and realize that perhaps because of the rapid growth and revenues over the past twelve years that we have gone overboard in creating the bureaucracy we now call city government.

What concerns me is that with most government budget cuts they turn out to be a drill in "smoke and mirrors" and little, if any, substance. No one department, of course, is above scrutiny and all will be staunchly prepared to defend their turf.

It is now time to take a hard look at the services provided by our city staff and make a few difficult decisions. Council might want to take the long view and perhaps do some rezoning of commercial/industrial property to perhaps residential since revenues from retail centers have not met expectations. Revenue expectations from empty shops/retail outlets are nonexistent, so what are we doing expanding that base?

Peachtree City was meant to be a residential bedroom community built upon a village concept, that is why the great majority of its citizens have chosen to remain. Just because we don't have a Kohls and Fayetteville and Newnan do is no reason for us to have one, but that is the line of thinking and priority that has permeated our city government for much too long.

It's high time to go back to the basics of what makes our town unique and that is residential areas interconnected by golf cart paths with ample greenspace. Our goal should be that for any new retail/commercial/industrial proposal must enhance our current quality of life before it is considered or approved.

Just my two cents worth.


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honest question
1s0k's picture
Submitted by 1s0k on Tue, 04/15/2008 - 7:43pm.

I have read that PTC is having "decreased sales tax revenue". Decreased from what? We have far more retail establishments than ever. I am confused. Did they project an amount that won't be reached or are they ACTUALLY lower than last year?


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