Keeping

taxes down will be at the forefront of discussion

as the Fayette County Commission continues a

series of budget workshops this week.

Commissioners

dug into the $57.5 million proposed budget in the

first of five workshops after press time last

night.

Another

session is scheduled 4 - 6:30 p.m. Thursday,

breaking up in time for the commission's regular

business meeting at 7. The first of two public

hearings on the budget will be conducted at the 7

p.m. meeting. The workshops are open to the

public as well, but public comment usually is not

accepted.

In

early drafts, the proposed budget anticipates a

1.6-mill tax increase, which would add about $113

to the tax bill on a $200,000 home.

But

there has already been some good news on the tax

front, as cost figures for a new jail and

courthouse came in lower than anticipated, at

$55.25 million. Debt payments on the jail will be

under $4 million a year, as opposed to the $4.25

million figure used in calculating the tax

increase in the budget.

On

the other hand, upward pressure on taxes may come

from the Atlanta Regional Commission's insistence

that all counties in the region commit to paying

proportionate shares of the regional

Transportation Improvement Plan. Federal agencies

are withholding transportation funding for the

entire region to get counties to commit to the

plan, which is designed to improve air quality in

the region.

Fayette

would have to plug an additional $280,000 into

the 2001 budget, and $3.6 million a year into

future budgets, if the county agrees to the

three-year plan.

"That's

a lot of money for Fayette County," said

Commissioner Greg Dunn as he pored over the

budget figures in preparation for this week's

meetings.

He

said commissioners will be looking for every way

possible to hold the line on taxes, and predicted

that the county will be able to reduce the

projected increase, but may not be able to cut it

"This

is really a tough budget year," he said.

"The staff came in several times and reduced

its requests. It's going to be hard to find fluff

in this one."

In

addition to the meetings last night and tomorrow,

commissioners will have workshops:

� June 14 from 1-4

p.m.;

� June 19 from 9 a.m.

to noon;

� June 22 from 4 - 6:30

p.m. If needed, a meeting also will be scheduled

for June 21 from 3 - 6 p.m.

Following

the June 22 workshop, commissioners will have the

second required public hearing during their 7

p.m. meeting, with plans to act on the budget at

that time.

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