SNELLVILLE – The Mayor and Council approved an overall budget of $11,344,770 Monday, keeping the millage rate at 4.588 mills, the same as last year.
"The new budget keeps the same millage rate and allows us to stay on track for our three-year plan to be salary competitive for all our employees," said City Manager Butch Sanders. "We also continue to meet our capital needs in street paving and storm water system repair."
Overall, the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget is up 4.9 percent or $549,000 over the 2017 FY Budget. A bulk of the increase comes from a lengthy renovation of the city's Unified Development Ordinance which will pave the way for future development in the city. The renovation will cost $120,000.
Capital needs are being met with $680,000 for street resurfacing and $662,000 in stormwater improvements.
Positive local economic growth is shown in several strong city revenue items including four years of positive Occupational Tax growth, a 40 percent increase in building permits in the past three years and a 20-percent increase in recreation programs in the last two years.
There will be millage rate hearings at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. June 30 and at 7:30 p.m. July 10 in Council Chambers in City Hall.