Mayor's FY 2014 Budget is $194 Million, $1.7 Million More than FY2013

A new economic development department, SPLOST projects coming on line and a raise for county employees are all part of Mayor Nancy Denson's FY2014 proposed budget. She submitted the document on Monday, and it is available here.

To pay for the increases, the mayor is asking for an increase of 0.25 mils in the millage rate. This would add $12.50 in property taxes for a house valued at $150,000. Also going up is the water and sewer rate, about $4.28 a house that averages 3,500 gallons a month.

The budget provides $2.5 million "to recruit, retain and reward" employees. And to add 11 additional positions to the county government work force. It allocates $500,000 to fund three positions in the Economic Development Department and to operate that department.

A public hearing will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Commission Chamber on the second floor of City Hall. The Mayor and Commission will receive both oral and written comments about the FY14 Budget. The Athens-Clarke County Commission, which should adopt a budget on June 4, will review the budget in the Government Building Auditorium at 120 West Dougherty Street (the old library) on May 9, May 14 and May 16, at 5:30pm.