The city of

Senoia has decided to pass on a potential grant that

could have brought two more policeman on the streets.

While the

grant would have paid 75 percent of the costs for the

officers for three years, the city declined the grant for

one simple reason: money.

Last year,

the city accepted the grant, but Mayor Joan Trammell said

at the last Senoia City Council meeting that the city

faces some big expenses in the next year that could put a

big bite in the city's budget.

First, the

city has committed to building a sewer system and owes

Southern Mills $500,000 for the first payment on the

newly acquired wastewater treatment plant.

Second, the

city is also looking at spending over $100,000 for a

radio system since the county informed the city in June

that it would no longer handle many of the city's police

calls, such as calling in drivers' license checks.

"It

[the grant] really is a good program, but I just don't

know what we're going to face in the next few

months," Trammell said.

Councilman

Robert Hannah agreed with Trammell, but said Police Chief

Ben Thomas was wise in trying to anticipate the city's

future growth and plan for the additional officers.

Currently,

the city has seven officers. A compliment of ten officers

is considered full staff and Thomas was hoping to get the

officers from the grant program at a reduced rate for the

city.

Both

Trammell and Hannah said they would be more than willing

to apply for the grant next year, if the city's budget

allows for it.