Faced with necessary and critical infrastructure repair and maintenance, along with vehicle replacements, Peachtree City is poised to use financing in the coming year to the tune of $2 million or more.
So far the figure adds up to some $1.76 million, but the figure is expected to climb after having an independent analysis of city infrastructure, officials said at Monday’s budget workshop between city staff and the City Council.
City Manager Jim Pennington told council that some parts of the city are really starting to show their age and beginning to deteriorate, and those areas must be addressed. Doing so is important “to maintaining the quality of life,” Pennington said.
On tap for the coming budget year for financing are vehicle replacement such as the typical 10 patrol cars for the police department at $495,000, a new chassis for an ambulance at $125,000 and three new dump trucks at $225,000 along with other public works vehicles.
Also in the plan are driveway and parking lot repairs at fire station 81 for $100,000, sealing of the exterior walls at fire station 82 at $55,000, repair and relocation of the city’s bulk oil storage facility at $50,000, building maintenance and facility improvements at the Baseball Soccer Complex (BSC) for $75,000 and repairs to the roofs over the covered courts at the city’s tennis center at $150,000.
Then there is $100,000 set aside for improvements to the amphitheater building and another $100,000 for a new coat of sealant on the exterior of the city library.
It’s easy to see that operating a city is an expensive venture.
On top of all the above items are further significant expenditures proposed for financing, including:
• Replacement of the city’s backup computer system at $60,000;
• Replacement of the city’s email and archiving system at $37,000; and
• Replacement and upgrading of the phone system at the public services (public works) building at $25,000; and
• Public services break room and restroom renovations at $40,000.
With a host of other similar big-ticket expenditures planned for the next five years, running the gamut from the resurfacing of the Kedron large pool to new fire trucks, the city is projecting to increase its annual debt service payments from $2.44 million this year to $2.99 million in the 2016-2017 fiscal year.
But there is no guarantee those projects will be funded in the future; they are simply in the city’s short-term financial plan and the final decision will remain with the City Council on a year by year basis.
The city also has some improvement projects programmed into the general fund portion of the budget which won’t require financing, including funds to improve recreational tennis courts in the city and a resurfacing of the All Children’s Playground.
