Pendergrass slashes budget by 45 percent
Pendergrass has decreased its proposed 2010 budget by 45 percent from last year.
Major cuts include the mayor and council foregoing salaries and doing away with all benefits, including insurance, for city employees.
The revenue projection is $360,000, which is the lowest in six years. The town anticipates getting only $49,000 from property taxes, a decrease of $10,000 from last year.
The millage rate for the upcoming year is unchanged at three mills.
The city is expecting to bring in $77,000 in sales tax, which is a decrease of $48,000 from 2009. Franchise taxes are estimated to bring in $41,000, which is largely unchanged from last year.
Revenue from police fines are also expected to be down, due to what the council referred to as moving the police department to a more community-oriented service. The city has long led the state in fines per capita, but in 2010 the city only expects $150,000 in police fines.
The budget does include funds for expenses related to lawsuits brought about by three former city employees. Mayor Monk Tolbert called the lawsuits a hit against the budget.
As required by law, there will be three meetings for the public to voice any concerns about the budget. The meetings are scheduled for Dec. 17 at 11 a.m., Dec. 23 at 9 a.m. and Dec. 23 at 6 p.m.
The budget will be voted on at the Dec. 29 regularly scheduled meeting.
A copy of the proposed budget is available for review at city hall.
The revenue projection is $360,000, which is the lowest in six years. The town anticipates getting only $49,000 from property taxes, a decrease of $10,000 from last year.
The millage rate for the upcoming year is unchanged at three mills.
The city is expecting to bring in $77,000 in sales tax, which is a decrease of $48,000 from 2009. Franchise taxes are estimated to bring in $41,000, which is largely unchanged from last year.
Revenue from police fines are also expected to be down, due to what the council referred to as moving the police department to a more community-oriented service. The city has long led the state in fines per capita, but in 2010 the city only expects $150,000 in police fines.
The budget does include funds for expenses related to lawsuits brought about by three former city employees. Mayor Monk Tolbert called the lawsuits a hit against the budget.
As required by law, there will be three meetings for the public to voice any concerns about the budget. The meetings are scheduled for Dec. 17 at 11 a.m., Dec. 23 at 9 a.m. and Dec. 23 at 6 p.m.
The budget will be voted on at the Dec. 29 regularly scheduled meeting.
A copy of the proposed budget is available for review at city hall.
Maybe in near future we will have less problems with job and economical crisis issue. I sure hope so.