Palmetto has a new budget that came in $2.7 million lower than last year. Adopted July 6, the $14.23 million budget reflects a substantial decrease over last year due to the nearly-completed sewer system upgrade. Also reflected were increases from water and sewer revenues, the renovation at the old depot, property reevaluations and anticipated tipping fees from Willow Oak Landfill once the facility is annexed. Perhaps as important as any provision in the budget was an increase in starting salary for police officers and the commitment to hire two new officers.

A $5.2 million budget decrease on the revenue side came with the 2005 bond issue and the near-term completion of the city’s sewer upgrade that will tie in to Fulton County and the Camp Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“The basic reason for the decrease is the bond issue money spent for the sewer lines and pump station,” said City Administrator Bill Shell. “The project is moving along well and we expect it to be completed in August. We should be pumping into the Fulton County system by September.”

Budget increases included $273,000 in the form of revalued property and $750,000 in transportation department funding for the renovation for the train depot and several sidewalks, Shell said. Slated as a first time budget item was a projected $250,000 in tipping fees from Willow Oak Landfill on Roosevelt Highway, expected to be annexed into the city in coming months.

Also increasing are anticipated revenues from electric, water and sewer and sanitation Enterprise Funds. Shell said electric revenues are projected to increase by $193,819 to $3,032,919. Water and sewer revenues are projected to increase by $920,762 to $2,692,907 and sanitation is expected to increase slightly to $248,511.

On the expenditure side of the budget, Shell said administrative costs will go up by $57,000 to $772,963 to account for a 4.7 percent wage increase to city staff and to cover additional animal control costs from Fulton County. The police department will see an increase of approximately $109,000 to cover the cost of two new officers and an increased starting salary of $29,132, up from the less competitive $25,770 starting rate. Also budgeted for the department are funds for training and cameras.

An additional quarter-million dollars is budgeted for the fire department in anticipation of Palmetto taking over the city fire station, possibly in January. Palmetto currently owns the station and equipment but would be responsible for salaries if the city takes over. The $250,000 figure would accommodate a half year’s salary for firefighters, Mayor Clark Boddie explained, adding that the move might come in 90 days rather than the projected 180 days. Fairburn recently opted to run its own department after Fulton announced it would require a significant increase to continue providing fire services.

The streets department will see a $53,000 decrease though the department will add one new position at less than $8 per hour. The special services budget will increase by $725,000 to $1.18 million, due largely to the depot renovation project, Shell said.

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