Previous budget workshops paved the way for a relatively quick and unanimous vote by the Tyrone Town Council Thursday to approve the $3.136 million General Fund budget for 2009-2010. Effective July 1, the new budget reflected a $578,585 decrease over the budget adopted a year ago.

Town Administrator Chris Venice in a previous letter to the council indicated that the budget anticipated a decline in property and personal taxes and in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) dollars due to the recession. The budget included no new positions and no salary or cost of living increases. The budget did include expected increases in medical and dental insurance and long-term disability coverage. The town will also begin the new fiscal year with approximately $2.3 million in undesignated General Fund reserves.

Among the revenue projections for 2009-2010 compiled by Finance Director Penny Hunter was a $98,413 decrease in property taxes, down from $970,000 in the 2008-2009 budget and a $25,000 decrease in LOST funds. Building permits were also projected to total $38,000, almost half the $75,000 budgeted a year ago.

Other revenue categories are expected to show an increase for the coming year. Among those are the Business & Occupational Tax and various franchise fees.

A matter of some discussion in last year was the price of various legal services. The budgeted amount in 2008-2009 for all professional services was $230,000 compared to $200,000 in the new budget. The budget category includes legal, engineering, audit and environmental services. Pertaining to legal services, the town paid $57,851 for the July-May period.

Tyrone projected nearly no growth in the tax digest, estimating a 1 percent increase. The value of 1 mill would increase from $407,156 to $411,228. And pertaining to millage rate increases, the council is not expected to raise the rate.

Also at the meeting, council members unanimously approved an increase in sign permits from $25 to $60. Information provided by the town showed Fayetteville charging $30, Fairburn and Palmetto charging $35, East Point and College Park at $60 and Peachtree City charging $100.

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