The

Peachtree City Water and Sewer Authority expects to adopt

a budget of slightly more than $2.5 million for the 2000

fiscal year when it convenes in September.

Based on

projections presented at Monday night's regular meeting

for August, the operating budget would see an increase of

8.76 percent, or $203,590. But current revenue

projections for this year are ahead of original

forecasts, and operating cash carryover for 2000 could

approach $2 million.

The

increase in operating budget is due mainly to higher

costs for process chemicals both at the Flat Creek

wastewater treatment plant and in WASA odor control

operations, as well as an additional operator position

approved by the board during the current fiscal year and

a shared geographic information system/computer

technician position with the city. Sludge disposal costs

also have been underestimated for 1999, contributing to a

higher figure in the new budget.

WASA

general manager Larry Turner reported to the board Monday

night that residential construction in Peachtree City

this year has been busier than expected, with the biggest

difference being seen in the multifamily sector.

Original

1999 budget projections came to $852,150 in multifamily

revenue, but that figure has been bumped up to $1.15

million due to planned construction of several apartment

complexes.

Projections

for 2000 in the same category are now at $260,000. The

$592,150 drop is the largest contributor to the overall

$405,000 decrease in revenue projections from 1999 to

2000.

As for the

projected operating budget increase, $164,783 was

attributed to materials, supplies and services. A $38,807

increase in salaries and benefits can be mostly tied to

the added operator position.

Turner said

an increase from $24,000 to $50,000 for engineering

services is because much more engineering support is

expected to be necessary in the coming year as the system

becomes busier.

The $40,000

adjustment in solids disposal costs was chalked up to

simple human error in computing this year's figures.

"We just missed it by that much," said Turner.

He expects

that column to see little difference in cost even if the

system switches to a composting method as expected later

this year. Turner plans to visit a composting site in

Plains today in preparation for a possible move in the

near future.

The capital

improvement budget is now at $2.7 million for the

upcoming fiscal year, with a shift from projects in the

original bond issue for projects identified in the past

year, Turner said.

A transfer

of some funds from the Replacement and Extension Fund as

well as the Rate Stabilization Fund was proposed to help

cover some projects.

The

September meeting will be Tuesday, the 7th, due to the

regular meeting date falling on Labor Day. It will be at

the WASA offices at Flat Creek, with a demonstration of

the authority's new central controls and TV monitoring

systems expected to be on the agenda.

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