SF commissioners approve 2010-11 budget on first reading

Posted: Saturday, September 18, 2010 8:52 am
By: By CHRIS MENEES

The Messenger 09.17.10

By CHRIS MENEES
Staff Reporter
After weeks of prep-aration, the South Fulton City Commission has approved the first reading of an ordinance to adopt a proposed budget, establish the city’s property tax rate and set spending limits for the 2010-11 fiscal year.
The first reading of the ordinance was approved by the commission during its regular monthly meeting Thursday evening at the South Fulton Municipal Building.
City manager Jeff Vowell has devoted considerable time to preparing the budget in recent weeks and the city commission has held budget workshops to discuss funding of operations.
The proposed budget includes the following revenues and expenditures:
• General fund — Revenue, $1,309,303; ex-penditures, $916,289.
• Utility fund (water and sewer) — Revenue, $1,744,622; expenditures, $1,310,647.
• Natural gas fund — Revenue, $1,237,231; ex-penditures, $1,143,371.
No expenditure listed may be exceeded without appropriate ordinance action and must include the sources of revenue to finance the proposed ex-penditures.
The city manager is required to prepare and maintain a detailed finan-cial plan to implement the ordinance and to make regular monthly budget reports to the city commission.
The proposed ordinance sets a real property and personal tax rate of $1.70 per $100 assessment to fund municipal services. The real property assessment ratio includes: residential and farm, 25 percent of appraised value; commercial and industrial, 40 percent of appraised value; and personal prop-erty, 30 percent of appraised value.
The first reading of the budget ordinance was pre-ceded by a public hearing to receive any comments from citizens. No one opted to speak, however.
A second reading is required before the budget ordinance becomes final, with the commission expected to hear the second reading during a special called session Sept. 24 at 5 p.m.
In other action during Thursday evening’s meeting, which was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer led by commissioner Charles Moody, the commission:
• Approved a low bid of $754,817.50 from G&L Sewer Rehab Inc. of Dundee, Ky., for the city’s Community Development Block Grant sewer evaluation and rehabilitation project, subject to approval by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
G&L is currently working on a similar project in Princeton, Ky., and plans to finish work there in October and move on to the South Fulton project, according to Ricky Davis of the Brentwood-based civil engineering firm Hethcoat & Davis Inc.
The first phase of the South Fulton project is limited to four months and, if completed by Feb. 1, 2011, with the $500,000 CDBG funding from the Department of Economic and Community Development, means the city can re-apply for grant funding to continue. If it is not completed by that time, the city will have to wait until next year to re-apply.
In addition to accepting the low bid, the commission approved a related required resolution indicating the city will provide the additional cash funds needed to cover the additional construction cost on the 2009 sewer improvement project. However, Davis said the sewer improvement work will be identified and will not go over budget, with the project limited to $525,000 worth of work.
• Approved the first reading of an ordinance to amend city code to adopt the International Building Code for residential structures, with a second reading scheduled for the called commission meeting on Sept. 24.
Vowell said the city is required by state law to update its building code, adding that the one currently being used by South Fulton is from 1994. He said the residential ordinance is the first step to forthcoming property maintenance and slum clearance ordinances, which will allow for the clean-up of some dilapidated properties.
• Adopted a proposed personnel policy for city employees. Moody complimented Vowell for his efforts in compiling the policy.
• Accepted a low bid of $10,150 from Davis Heating & Cooling for the replacement of an air conditioning unit for the police department.
• Tabled until next month a proposal to make Williams Street a one-way street near College Street, going toward Broadway, as the result of some complaints about a dangerous curve on the narrow street.
Mayor David Crocker said he is not opposed to the proposal, but suggested the city wait until after the Railroad Heritage Festival is concluded in the downtown area so any change will not hinder traffic right now and to give motorists time to adjust.
• Approved a proclamation in honor of a resident’s 90th birthday.
Vice Mayor Keith Curlin and commissioner Tony Perry were absent from Thursday evening’s meeting.
Staff Reporter Chris Menees may be contacted by e-mail at cmenees@ucmessenger.com.

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