The Fulton County Commission

began discussion Wednesday of the 2003 county budget as Commission Chairman

Mike Kenn called for drastic budget cuts.

Kenn is proposing a $632 million

budget for next year which features a number of cuts, including:

A 31.3 percent reduction in

road money, which saves the county $5 million.

A 15.5 percent in temporary

staffing for a savings of $2 million.

A nearly five percent cut

in the sheriff's budget, which saves taxpayers $4 million.

A $5 million cut in funding

to Grady Memorial Hospital.

A 16.9 reduction in funding

to the Arts council for a $1 million savings.

Still, with all the cuts Kenn

recommends, the county would still have to use more than $19 million in

reserve funds to balance the budget.

"We are facing a lean

budget year, despite using some of our reserve funds. But these are not

unreasonable cuts. I believe some of these departments, including Grady

Hospital, can operate with a little more efficiency," Kenn said.

Additionally, Kenn said the

city of Atlanta would have to pay the county for turning over its judicial

program to the county.

"I am asking our board

to pass a budget that deducts about $8 million from the Local Option Sales

Tax money that goes to Atlanta. That will cover the county's cost to operate

the court services Atlanta will no longer provide," Kenn said.