The latest trims to Peachtree City's operating budget for the coming

fiscal year will allow the millage rate to stay the same, officials said.

City residents still face a tax increase, but one tied solely to the increase

in their individual property's value, which is determined by the Fayette

County Tax Assessor's office.

All of the 10 proposed new full-time positions in the budget remained in

the budget after a workshop meeting of the City Council Wednesday night.

Three firefighters, three police officers and an assistant fire marshal are

included in the group, along with a staff assistant in administrative services

to help with court duties, a purchasing agent and a maintenance technician

for the public works department.

The city can afford to add the new positions because of an upswing in revenue

and a significant amount of savings from the current year's budget,

officials said.

If it weren't for the debt service on the new library expansion that

was approved by voters last year, the city likely could have rolled back

the millage to negate the tax increase, noted City Finance Director Paul

Salvatore.

The cost of paying the debt service for the library equates to .258 mills,

and the difference between the rollback rate and the proposed millage rate

is .255 mills, Salvatore said.