Increased property values mean higher city tax payments for residents
The Peachtree City Council is expected to adopt the FY 2016 budget and the 2015 millage rate on Aug. 20. A discussion of traffic improvements along Ga. Highway 54 West may be continued until September per the council’s discussion earlier this month.
As previously reported, the FY 2016 general fund budget totals $33.519 million and includes no millage increase, no across the board employee raises and the use of a more conservative $769,000 in reserves to bolster needed paving expenses.
The adoption follows public hearings on the budget that does include a tax increase due to increases in property values.
Street resurfacing was a major factor in determining the budget numbers. As selected, the $33.5 million budget, which includes the allocation of $769,000 in reserves, will provide $2 million for resurfacing projects.
As it stands today, the budget will provide for an additional $225,000 for cart path work bringing that total to $665,000, some of which could be offset by the increase in cart registration fees which will be raised to an annualized figure of $15.
The council at previous meetings had agreed that the budget would not include an across the board employee pay increase, though it will include items such as adding one detective position in the police department and $114,000 in employee merit increases.
The council on Aug. 20 will adopt the millage rate to be set at the current rate of 6.756 mills. Also to be adopted is the bond rate that will be lowered from the current .332 mills to .314 mills.
On another issue, city staff have recommended that the discussion on traffic improvements on Ga. Highway 54 West be continued until the Sept. 17 meeting. That recommendation is in line with the council’s Aug. 6 discussion where funding for design work at Hwy. 54 and MacDuff Parkway was approved. The council earlier in the year approved design work for the intersection at Planterra Way.
The council agreed to have three additional potential traffic improvement projects, dealing with Market Place Boulevard, Commerce Drive and Ga. Highway 74 at Westpark Drive, discussed at the Sept. 17 meeting to give area businesses time to provide input the possibility of having right-in, right-out restrictions at Commerce Drive and potentially at Market Place Boulevard and a traffic signal at Westpark Drive.
City staff have emphasized that design work is far less expensive than the actual construction involved. There are no current funds available for construction for any of the projects.
The council at the Aug. 20 meeting will also discuss vegetation in Lake Peachtree.
