Tyrone's proposed 2004-2005 budget is a balanced budget, which

as town manager Barry Amos said, "is not something many places can

achieve."

Amos described the budget at last Thursday's Town Council meeting

as one without a lot of frills, but also stated that, most importantly,

there was no tax increase. The existing tax rate of 2.9 mils will stay

the same this year.

The total revenue of the budget is $2,950, 355, which is an increase

in revenue from last year of 10 percent. The largest source of revenue

is taxes, including property taxes and franchise fees. The largest percentage

of the revenue, 41 percent, is distributed to public safety.

The town also plans to spend $586,000 on capital improvement projects

this year: $60,000 will go toward street improvements, $80,000 will go

toward the construction of restroom/concession stand at Handley Park

($40,000 of the $80,000 will come from the Tyrone Youth Baseball Association),

$35,000 will go toward the reconstruction of the tennis and basketball

courts at Shamrock Park, $401,000 will go toward the construction of

the multiuse path from Handley Park to Anthony Drive ($320,800 will come

from a grant from the state), and $10,000 will go to the construction

of the greenspace triangle park located on Senoia Road.

"Contrary to rumors circulating around town, we are not building

an amphitheater," said Amos. The park will feature an octagonal

steel gazebo as a centerpiece. "It will give us something to build

on and will be an asset to the town."

Perhaps the most interesting thing to come out of the inital budget

discussion was the hope that construction of a new library would begin

in 2005-2006. The town has once again applied for a state grant and hopes

that funding will come through for a $1.7 million library.

The budget will go up for approval at the next meeting, Thursday, July

1 at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend and comment on the budget.

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