Tyrone’s $5.7 million budget for next year is almost a done deal.

During Thursday night’s Town Council meeting, town manager Barry amos presented an overview of the budget. Amos said that nearly 32 percent of the revenues needed for next year are from state grants.

“For a town of 6,500, that’s a pretty good return on your state taxes,” he said.

Property taxes fund 14 percent, while sales tax fund nearly 12 percent of the budget. The town is also using more than $400,000 in reserve funds to balance this year’s budget.

The budget does include four new positions to the town’s current 32, including a police officer, stormwater engineer, a public works person and a part-time code enforcement officer.

One of the biggest elements of the budget is the library, with a $1.73 million price tag. The town is receiving $1.2 million from the state, $119,000 in impact fees, $191,000 from the library Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax and $152,000 from the general fund to build the new building just off Commerce Drive.

Amos said this year’s budget has proven to be challenging because the town’s growth rate is slowing and the percentage of sales tax receipts continues to drop.

“Fayette County negotiated with Peachtree City to increase their portion of the LOST at the expense of the municipalities. Every year beginning with 2003 through 2005. Tyrone’s percentage of the LOST has been reduced,” Amos said.

The town does not plan to rollback the assessments, so three public hearings will have to be held before it can be approved.

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