Fairburn officials

passed their budget for next year, but also said theu would be closely

monitoring the sales tax coming into the city.

This year's

proposed $11.5 million budget is double the city's budget from 1993. City

Administrator Tony Cox explained the increase was due to the phenomenal

growth that has occurred in the area and said the city's employment force

has grown from 50 to 73 in the same time frame.

Cox's personal

recommendation that was ultimately passed by the City Council was to keep

the tax rate at 4.5 mills.

Included in

this year's budget is a 2.5 percent raise for city employees. The budget

does not include a requested three new police officers and also calls

for very few new capital requests.

Cox said the

city receives most of its budget funds from sales tax, and sales tax growth

is expected to be only 4 percent next year, instead of the normal 7 percent

in a more robust economy.

But City Councilman

Harvey Melear said he is worried about sales tax collections in light

of the economy's dip since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Cox said he

would be closely watching the returns coming into the city, and putting

off any big purchases until the city discovers if sales tax money is lower

than anticipated.

The biggest

increase in requested funds this year is in city administration, which

is up $256,000. Cox said nearly $190,000 of the increase goes to pay for

the increased number of inspections the city has to do for developments.

The budget

passed the council unanimously.

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