With just a month into his

new job, Fairburn's new city manager, Jim Williams, has already put his

signature on how to do business with the city.

Residents who have attended

the last two City Council meetings may have noticed the number of items

tabled for further discussion.

Williams is trying to make

sure by the time items reach the City Council, they are ready for a vote.

The city manager issues an

internal memorandum on each issue and gives the City Council staff's view

on each item.

For years, Williams operated

the same way in Peachtree City, and he's bringing that style of management

to Fairburn.

"Everything should be

done by the time it reaches you. We want as complete a report from staff

as we can assemble," he said.

One of the toughest assignments

Williams has had to deal with in his short tenure in the city is the budget

for next year.

Williams said last year's $11.6

million budget was only balanced because the city took nearly $1.2 million

from its reserve fund.

"You really should not

do that two years in a row," he cautioned.

In evaluating this year's budget,

Williams' initial draft proposal is for a $12.3 million budget, which

would offer the same level of services as last year's. But in crunching

the number, he discovered the city would fall about $356,000 short in

funds to pay for the programs.

In order to pay for the budget,

Williams said the only alternatives were to cut services, cut the budget,

use reserve funds or increase taxes.

"This budget just keeps

it going like last year. There's not a whole lot to cut," he said.

Instead, Williams said the

City Council could raise the funds by raising the millage rate from just

over four mills to 7.5 mills, which would cost homeowners of a $100,000

home about $30 more a year in property taxes.

"I wanted to alert you

about this problem," Williams said.

For the past few weeks, Williams

has been investigating the services, such as electricity, the city is

providing to the residents.

One solution to the budget

crunch could be an increase in the fees currently charged for the services.

The City Council is expected

to discuss the budget more during Monday night's meeting.

The council's workshop starts

at 6:30 p.m. Monday and the regular meeting follows at 7:30 p.m.