Coweta County's

proposed budget for next year features no tax increase and only a modest

personnel increase.

That's the

word finance director Rick Smoot gave the Coweta County Commissioners

during Tuesday's meeting.

The $33.7 million

general fund budget includes a 2.5 percent cost of living adjustment for

county employees, along with the state mandated cost of living increases

for Constitutional officers.

In this year's

budget requests, Sheriff Mike Yeager had requested 18 new positions and

18 vehicles. Smoot said his recommendation is for six new deputies and

eight cars, which could set up a skirmish between the sheriff and the

County Commission during budget hearings.

Smoot also

cut the Fire Department's personnel requests in half. While fire officials

asked for six new firefighters, Smoot said he could only support three

new positions.

The finance

director also suggested that capital equipment be purchased from the county's

reserve fund. He recommended transferring $1.5 million from the general

fund balance at the end of the year to buy the equipment, such as a new

pumper and tanker for the fire department.

Also included

in this year's budget is $10,000 each for the Senoia and Grantville libraries.

The commissioners

thanked Smoot for his work on the budget and set a public hearing on the

document for 4 p.m. Dec. 17.