The Peachtree City Council is expected to vote Thursday night on a recommendation to eliminate 23 landscaping and maintenance positions, all of which would later be replaced by services provided by a contractor.

The move would save the city an estimated $840,000 a year, according to City Manager Bernie McMullen.

Council will also consider allowing a developer to communicate with city staff about a proposed annexation of 48 acres on the east side of the city.

McMullen is proposing to pay each fired employee six weeks severance pay and also continue the city insurance for them until the end of that six-week period. The city will also ask any contractor that would take over those services to consider any of the employees for jobs created by the contract.

The cut is one of several proposed to help get the city’s 2009-2010 budget in line. Officials have projected a $3.5 million deficit due in part to decreased revenues from sales and property taxes.

Council is also expected to vote Thursday on a proposal to nearly double employee insurance premiums for a savings of $120,000 a year. Also up for consideration is elimination of paid leave benefits for regular part-time employees and non-regular part-time firefighters starting March 1, a savings of $45,000 a year.

The annexation proposal from developer Hyde Investments is for a 48-acre tract adjacent to the Peachtree City United Methodist Church off Robinson Road. The company is proposing 21 single-family homes on the property, which would become an extension of the Hyde Park subdivision at the end of Carriage Lane.

Hyde Investments is proposing that the average home value would be approximately $800,000.

The land is currently in the unincorporated county and abuts Camp Creek. Because of the creek’s location, the land can only be accessed by traveling through Peachtree City.

A vote is required because currently members of city staff are forbidden from discussing any annexations with developers without council approval. If the request is approved, city staff will later prepare formal recommendations for council to consider.