The Fayette County Commission got a preliminary look at the proposed 2019 budget that becomes effective July 1. Projected at $52 million in expenditures, the budget comes with no property tax increase.
Revenues for the proposed general fund budget for 2019 total $52.66 million, while expenditures and other uses total $52.122 million, resulting in a $540,250 positive impact to the General Fund. The current general fund budget as adopted totaled $50 million.
It is significant that the fund balance is included in the general fund. The expected $540,250 fund balance for 2019 will be added 2018 fund balance of $29,144,510, for a total of $29,684,760.
The proposed budget comes with no property tax increase. Finance Director Mary Parrott noted that the 2018 millage rate rollback amounted to a $599,966 savings for taxpayers, adding that the cumulative savings to taxpayers totals $21.5 million since 2013.
Pertaining to salary increases, the county continues to maintain a merit-only-based system.
The proposed budget includes 14 new full-time equivalent positions and 3.75 part-time equivalents.
New full-time positions are requested for human resources, information technology, public works, purchasing, criminal investigations, tax assessor, fire, EMS and the water system.
Parrott said Fayette County new housing starts have increased 4.4 percent over the past two years and the county’s unemployment rate in 2018 stands at 3.6 percent. That compares to the 4.1 percent unemployment rate in 2017.
Parrott said that, compared to 18 other metro Atlanta counties, Fayette has the second lowest millage rate. Only Forsyth County has a lower rate.
Public hearings on the budget will be held in the commission chambers on June 14 at 6:30 p.m. and on June 28 at 6:30 p.m. The budget adoption will follow on June 28.
