Politics & Government

Public Hearing on Proposed Marietta Budget Today

The city of Marietta will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 5, on its recommended budget for fiscal year 2014, which begins July 1.

by city of Marietta

The city of Marietta will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 5, on its recommended budget for fiscal year 2014, which begins July 1.

The meeting will be held at noon in the City Council chamber located on the lobby level of City Hall, 205 Lawrence St.

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Marietta's budget funds the day-to-day operations of the city, including police and fire services, parks and recreation programs, streets and public works maintenance.

The city manager's recommended budget is balanced and has no service reductions and no tax or fee increases. The city's millage rate – 2.788 mills – is expected to stay the same, budget manager Lori Duncan said. "The proposed budget is as conservative as previous years with just a 1.4 percent increase over last year."

Find out what's happening in Mariettawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Despite the nation's economic challenges, Marietta's proposed budget is balanced, and departments' discretionary operating budgets remain flat again this year, Duncan said.

"We are not increasing our capital budget, which remains low at $300,000," she said. "A selective hiring freeze remains in effect in most departments, but the city is still recruiting Fire and Police positions." 

"Marietta is fortunate to be a city that has both the lowest tax rates of a city our size in metro Atlanta and the lowest electric rates in our area," city manager Bill Bruton said.

"The city has made many cuts since the recession, and the proposed general fund budget is two million dollars less than it was in 2009," Bruton said. "We have frozen approximately 45 positions that we are not going to fill, and the operating expenditures that departments have control over has been reduced by 35 percent."

The general fund budget is $48.8 million; the total of all funds is approximately $290 million. The city's undesignated reserve balance is approximately $16.8 million. The city is expected to finish the current fiscal year June 30 with a positive balance, possible because of savings in personnel costs.

Citizens are invited to attend the public hearing. After a presentation on the budget elements, citizens will have up to 15 minutes per person to comment about the budget.

Marietta City Council will consider the budget for approval at its meeting June 12 at 7 p.m. in the Council chamber.


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