An overall spending of $10.2 million for the coming fiscal year – and a slightly lower millage rate for property taxes – are expected to be approved by the Eatonton mayor and council at its mid-month meeting this coming Monday evening.
According to figures supplied by City Administrator Gary Sanders, the bulk of the spending ($7.5 million) would fall to the general fund, to be supplemented by revenues from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST, $1.2 million, capital items) and the Transportation-Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (T-SPLOST, $1.5 million, street resurfacing).
Included in the general fund is $1.8 million for the semi-autonomous Gas Department, which operates as an enterprise fund. Such a designation means that natural gas revenues must go toward gas purchases and department operations, with approximately $125,000 going to salary supplements for financial administration by the city administrator, city clerk, and two assistant clerks.
Not counting the Gas Department means the city’s actual spending in the coming October-to-September fiscal year would come to $8.5 million.
Some of the larger proposed expenditures include a 5% cost-of-living-allowance for the city’s 50-55 employees; $75,000 to the Downtown Development Authority for continued renovation of the Pex Theater; re-roofing, painting, and carpentry at the library with a $50,000 match with the state; elections, $46,000; and traffic cameras, $30,000.
Projected street resurfacings include Alice Walker Drive, Church Street from North Madison to Oak Way, Crestview Drive, East Magnolia Street, the Godfrey Highway/Oak Way inside the bypass, Highland Drive, Hudson Road, Larry Drive, Parkway, Pine, and Sherwood.
In addition, a grant application for a possible $750,000 is in the works to build a high-pressure (300 psi) gas line to connect with a similar line on Ga. 44. The normal pressure for most lines is 30 psi.
As for property tax revenues, the lowering of the millage rate from 11.544 mills to 10.962 mills and the 9% rise in the city’s surprisingly modest $158 million net digest essentially amounts to a wash for the city. However, property owners may see variations, depending on their individual circumstances.