1.

How will you vote to deal with the city's budget crunch? Specifically,

what will you vote to cut or delay, and what will you vote to fund?

Nancy Faulkner

I support the

emergency contingency plan that was prepared by our finance director and

adopted by City Council last week. However, we need to be flexible. America

is at war. My service in the Army included some anti-terrorism training.

I don't believe we should become hysterical and alter our life-style significantly,

but we need to evaluate our priorities. Life will not come to a grinding

halt if we postpone purchase of the Braelinn Community Center. Both our

fire chief and police chief have expressed a need for additional staff

and resources. Addressing those needs should be our first priority. With

the ongoing anthrax situation, we also need additional hazmat equipment,

material and education. This is a nationwide dilemma but it is not a time

to feel helpless. More than anything we need to pull together and empower

ourselves as a community with a unified sense of purpose.

Steve Rapson

Recently, council

approved a budget contingency plan to address this concern. This plan

follows the seven step process I implemented during the budget cycle.

We must change our approach to how we do things we need to learn to live

within our means. This approach does not delay or shift property tax increases

from one year to the next, but is a fundamental change in how we approach

balancing the budget to meet the needs of all citizens, while maintaining

financial integrity. I will not support a tax increase unless all other

avenues have been utterly exhausted. I didn't believe that was the case

this year which is why I voted against a 14 percent increase. The beauty

of a bond referendum is that voters have a clear voice in choosing whether

or not to support projects that will increase taxes. I sincerely believe

some of these projects will enhance our quality of life. However, if the

voters say no no is the answer.

Carol Fritz

We have already

made those decisions. I will not support further cuts for police and fire.

The city adopted financial policies earlier this year as a guide to financial

stability in the coming years, and restoring our cash reserves is paramount.

Council also adopted a contingency plan beyond the severe cuts made after

Sept. 11, taking into consideration the potential shortfall in projected

revenue. It looks at several items, along with a cost analysis of those

cuts. The budget is the responsibility of the city manager, and is under

constant review for any adjustments we can or should make. The bond referendum

is the perfect opportunity for the citizens to be involved. Should the

voters say no to the bond referendum, then they say no. If they say yes,

then I will do the best job possible to meet the challenge.

Alison Chambers

The city is

not the only business facing a budget crunch in the wake of the Sept.

11 terrorist attacks and the war we are now waging. If the voters say

NO to items on the bond referendum next month, then those projects will

wait. Our main priority at this stressful time is to make sure our residents

are secure and protected. I agree we should all look ahead and move past

the incidents of Sept. 11, but we must also be practical when it comes

to spending taxpayers' dollars.

Gerald Ostrowski

First step

would be to have new mayor and council study current budget and reach

consensus about the priorities of the community. My suggestion, if necessary,

would be to delay Drake Field and encourage community support to help

supply funds such as the endeavour of the All Childrens Playground. The

community was able to pull together with limited government assistance

and a way to appreciate the park as "our own." The Braelinn

community center would top my list of priorities for approval, but if

not feasible I would encourage our tax-free churches to support community

center events and support PTC by initiating communication with fellow

worshipers and work together until the community can afford a neutral

site.

Murray Weed

While Peachtree

City cannot rely as much on permit fees, the city still has millions of

dollars in reserve. We should consider shifting unused funds to necessary

projects, while retaining enough money in reserve so that our municipal

bond rating does not suffer. Maintaining a long term financial plan and

specific budgeting will allow retention of less money in reserve. No services

exist in the city that demand immediate cuts from the budget. However,

a hiring freeze could be implemented to alleviate possible financial strain.

There are departments which have funded positions left unfilled. Instead

of maintaining a high level of funded positions left unfilled we can reduce

funded but unfilled jobs and provide the same level of service. I will

always vote to support police, fire and public works/utility services

first. We must secure our homes, families and have clean water and keep

a heathy sewage capacity.

2. The city is

nearing build-out, while the economy is in a slump. Given that, should city

staff levels grow, remain the same, or be cut?

Nancy Faulkner

My 12-year

employment with Peachtree City has given me an intimate perspective concerning

staff levels. I believe there are some changes that can be made within

the administration to increase efficiency and improve service that should

not decrease staffing levels or affect the employment status of existing

employees. Peachtree City is what it is today because of the employees

who have worked behind the scenes day in and day out. They provide an

excellent level of customer service with limited resources. Peachtree

City has the lowest amount of employees per capita than any city of our

size. There are not many positions that could be cut. However, with our

current state of affairs, I would only consider increasing the number

of public safety employees.

Steve Rapson

We need to

take care of what we have and get