Several North Georgia municipalities are starting their fiscal year 2017 budget cycle. The Walker County cities of LaFayette and Rossville recently approved their budgets for the new year which began Oct. 1.
LAFAYETTE
“Our total personnel costs including benefits and health care is approximately $6.7 million out of a $22 million budget for fiscal year 2017,” reported City Manager David Hamilton. “For city recreation we budgeted $794,000. For police and fire total we budgeted $1.7 million. The biggest chunk of the budget is electrical costs at $8.1 million. Total expenditures of streets is $894,000. Water and sewer is another big chunk at $4.7 million.”
In explaining the additional $1 million in revenue in this year’s budget as compared to last year’s, Hamilton cited a growth in the city’s utility services.
“We’ve had several expansions, so we’ve seen an increase in revenue in electric,” he said. “We’ve seen an increase in natural gas somewhat because of expanding natural gas lines to chicken houses. We had the water rate increase in January, so we are getting added water revenue.”
The city hopes to further benefit its utility sector by adding solar panels. The city is considering an ordinance to allow for solar panels.
“This would allow solar panels in certain locations,” Hamilton said of the proposed ordinance. “From an aesthetic standpoint, the proposed ordinance allows solar panels in the rear of the building. It addresses safety concerns. For individuals interested in applying for solar, it lays out how they can do it and where they can do it.”
ROSSVILLE
“It’s a balanced budget, so the projected revenues and projected expenditures are the same: $2,411,255,” said Mayor Teddy Harris.
Citing the biggest expenses for the city, he said the Police Department has $864,255 allocated for the upcoming year and the Fire Department will receive $262,330.
“The budget has $66,457 allocated to the Rossville Library in the 2016-2017 budget. It is the same amount that we allocated last year,” Harris added. “The Rossville DDA [Downtown Development Authority] currently does not have a paid director and will receive no funds in the 2016-2017 budget.”
Harris said he doesn’t anticipate any changes or big projects using general revenues in the coming year.
“We are looking at some grants. Right now it would be for sewers,” he said. “We are doing a thorough inspection of our sewers and determining the areas that need immediate attention.”
Harris said the city plans to hire one more employee in the next year to work with sewers.