PAGE 2-A
HOGANSVILLE HOME NEWS - THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2002
Proposed
at 6 p.m. to, finalized the vote
City Budget Will 'Hold the Line,' Officials
By Bryan Geter before the July 1 due date.
Mayor Wilson St. Clair
The Hogansville City said the budget is pretty
Council approved the Ist straightforward.
reading of the new budget for The budget will hold the
FY 2002-2003 during the line at a little below the cur-
council meeting Monday rent inflation rates, accord-
evening and then called for a ing to city officials.
"special meeting" on June 27 The city's mill rate
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Every week we help
thousands of people with
remains unchanged while
new assessments will also be
under the State rate of infla-
tion.
"It's a very business-like
budget. The city council has
done a great job," St Clair stat-
ed, "As any business person
can tell you, a business, and
a small town government is
a business, is affected by
price increases in labor, cap-
ital goods and utilities. Even
when these increases, like
utilities, which are often
beyond our control, are over
the national inflation rate, we
have founds ways to cut costs
in other places."
"When you consider infla-
tion, we're doing more on
less," he added. "We are get-
ting less from the taxpayer
after inflation."
"Indeed, if it weren't for
Hogansville's debt from 1991.
with this budget," St. Clair
saidl "we could get along with-
out collecting any city prop-
erty taxes at all."
The budget limits
increases across the board in
utilities to 2.4%, two tenths
of a per cent below the fed-
eral cost of living raise of
2.6%.
St Clair said this was done
though utility rate suppliers
have raised the city's cost by
as much.0s 5%.
Beside'S"the 2.4%, the city
will also increase fee for
water and sewer taps and
grave openings.
Cemetery grave openings
and closing fee will go from
$200 to $300; $350 for week-I
ends and holidays; water and
sewer tap fees which are cur-
rently $300 for water and
$200 for sewer will be $450;
utility rate increase for elec-
tric, gas, water and sewer will
be 2.4%
'rhese departments
aren't breaking even and the
fees have been the same for
years," St Clair stated. "We're
also hundreds of dollars
cheaper than the market for
these services in surround-
hag cities. These fees have to
be brought in line with our
costs."
The new budget Capital
Outlay calls for a patrol car,
GCIC terminal upgrade, a
used service truck, a used
trencher and hay cutting and
baling equipment.
Also included in the budg-
Error Will Delay Nonpartisan
Election Change Four Years
Lee said.
By Bryan Geter Lee said the legislative
It will another four years
before Troup or Meriwether
counties will hold nonparti-
san elections for chief mag-
istrate because of a typo-
graphical error.
'Fhe legislative counsers
office made an error in draft-
ing the legislation," Sen. Dan
Lee stated last week.
Lee's local bill to have
nonpartisan election for chief
magistrate was approved by
the General Assembly, but
not for probate judge.
Lee said when they draft-
ed legislation for magistrate
court, they put 2004 instead
of 2002. It was just an error,
counsel's office can do noth-
ing to correct the mistake,
which means the chief mag-
istrate won't be nonpartisan
until 2006.
Lee said it is unfortunate
and ashame to have put so
much effort to get it done and
have an error made in the
date. "I am strongly support-
ive of judges' races being non-
partisan," Lee added.
Lee said next year he
plans to introduce a statewide
bill for nonpartisan elections
for probate judges and mag-
istrates.
State and superior court
judges are already nonparti-
san.
Lee said partisan races
put judges in an awkward sit-
uation because they're not
supposed to engage in poli-
tics.
"In most counties, probate
judges are also election
superintendent," Lee stated.
"How can they be partisan
one day and nonpartisan on
election day?"
et is employee increase F/Y
2001-2002 (Cola) approxi-
mately $38,000 and employ-
ee increase (bonus) F/Y 02-03
approximately $30,000.
City Manager David
Aldrich said the new budget
is a well-tight one, "cutting
out the fat and some of the
lean."
The millage rate will go
no greater than
Clair said, ifit
percent, we will roll
so that even
ments the property
increases will not be
three percent State
rate.
Aldrich said the
had not yet been
and returned
of yet.
City of Hogansville
400 East Main Street
Hogansville, GA 30230
706-637-8629
Notice to the Public
Budget hearing for the General Budget for
year July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003 will
held at City Hall on June 27, 2002 at 6:30 p.m.
Gener&l Fund Budget $1,650,480
Enterprise Fund Budget 4,158,060
Total Budget "
$5,808,540
A copy of the budget summary may be seen al
office of the City Clerk between the hours of
a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The citizens of Hogansville are invited to
on the Budget. Written or oral comments will
received on or before the date of the Public
Hearing.
City of Hoc
David Aldrich, City
cExp.o
enmr
299 Commerce Ave., US HWY. 20 (OLD WAL-MART
LaGrange, GA • (706) 884-2500
-. ", - ......... . ,
!
The Hogansville
Optimist Club donated the
flagpole and accessories.
Lionel Booth donated the flag
to H.C.I.A.
The Home News regrets
reporting otherwise.
..... G # 3076
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