If the Fayette

County commissioners want to fund elements in the first year of their

Capital Improvement Program, they'll have to transfer nearly $3.5 million

from their cash reserves for the projects.

For the first

time, the county has created a Capital Improvement Program to use as a

guideline for future big-dollar projects. The total price for all the

items is $37 million, but the County Commission emphasized last week that

it had not fully approved the program.

Finance director

Mark Pulliam said the county had nearly $13 million in reserves, which

is more than the normal three month reserve.

"We have

to keep the three-month reserve, because taxes don't start rolling in

until December," he said.

The CIP discussion

was part of the county's workshop last week on the budget. During the

discussions, the County Commission looked at each department's capital

needs for the upcoming year. This year's projects include:

A severe weather

early warning system for $90,000.

Improvements

to parks, such as Kiwanis Park and McCurry Park, along with a new park

in north Fayette, for $831,000.

More than

$1.2 million in road projects such as the widening of Lester Road, widening

and improving the drainage at Huiet Road at Ga. Highway 54 and intersection

realignment at Goza Road and Ga. Highway 85.

Several water

projects, including a water tank on Hwy. 85, funds for the permitting

and construction of Lake McIntosh and a water tank in south Fayette County.

One of the

bigger projects not needing funds next year but still in the program is

a new $2.25 million headquarters for fire and emergency services and emergency

operations center.

During the

budget discussions, Chairman Greg Dunn said approving funds for this year's

projects was giving tacit approval to start planning for the projects

down the road.

But Commissioner

Herb Frady insisted all he was voting on was this year's budget, and felt

the County Commission needed to have a workshop on the entire capital

program to prioritize the projects.