Senoia's city

government will get by on a little less next year.

The City Council

is expected to approve the 2003 city budget at Monday's meeting. During

last Monday's public hearing on the budget, city officials announced the

2003 general fund budget is $1.17 million, compared to last year's $1.26

million.

Last year,

the City Council adopted the 2001 budget for 2002, since there was such

a turnover on the council and there was little time to analyze the figures.

Now, with a

year under its belt, the council has cut nearly $90,000 from the budget,

but will still be able to give employees a 5 percent cost of living raise

during the year.

City administrator

Murray McAfee thanked city clerk Debbie Hogan and city auditor Jimmy Whittaker

for help in preparing this year's budget, which is up for approval at

7 p.m. Monday.

In other news,

the council rendered a split decision on annexations into the city.

The council

approved annexing 45 acres on Rockaway Road into the city. The tract is

being developed by Stan Cameron as a subdivision. The 45 annexed acres

is part of a 100-acre tract and Cameron pointed out the rest of the property

is already in the city.

Cameron also

spent nearly $10,000 on trying to determine if water was available on

his site. While he did find water, he said it wasn't sufficient enough

to supply his subdivision.

He did pledge

up to $20,000 to the city for looking at another site for water.

The council

turned down a request by Donovan Gossett to annex 15 acres on Rockaway

Road into the city. Gossett planned to develop 12 homes on the site, but

nobody on the council made a motion to approve or deny the petition, so

it failed.