Fairburn's citizens will have

one last shot to speak next week about the proposed property tax hike

in the city.

City administrator Jim Williams

explained at last Monday night's City Council meeting that this year's

$13.1 million budget would require a 33 percent tax hike, from 4.5 mils

to 6 mils.

Property owners with a $100,000

home could expect a $60 yearly increase in their property tax bills, while

owners of a $200,000 home will see a $120 increase.

Additionally, the city's water

rates will also increase. For the first 2,000 gallons of usage, the rate

increases from $11 to $15. For each additional thousand gallons of use,

the rate jumps from $2.48 per thousand to $2.73.

Williams said customers who

use 10,000 gallons of water each month would see a $6 increase in their

water bill.

The final part of balancing

this year's budget is taking $150,000 from the reserve fund.

When it came time to comment

on the budget, only Councilman Harvey Melear had an opinion.

"I don't like what we

spent last year. We had an $11 million budget and put $450,000 in the

bank," he said.

Williams said the increase

in this year's budget is due to bonds on the city's water treatment facility

and an expansion of cable operations.

The City Council will make

a final decision on the budget at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.