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Politics & Government

Budget Preview Shows Roswell in Good Shape

While neignboring municipalities are struggling to balance their budgets, Roswell preliminary budget indicates the city has a modest surplus.

Roswell city officials got a look at the proposed FY 2012 budget last week and liked what they saw. On May 9, they will present the budget to the public and follow it up with two public hearings so taxpayers can get a look also and offer some input.

"The city is in great financial shape," said Mayor Jere Wood, who added that he is "absolutely confident" there will be no tax increase this year.

The preliminary General Fund budget for 2012 is $55,055,279. With revenue projected at  $57,381,838 that leaves $2,326,559 available to the program. That in itself is good news, considering that many neighboring counties are struggling to accommodate revenue shortfalls due mainly to a decrease in the tax digest.

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For example, Cobb County is having to make up a $31.5 million shortfall. Fulton County is working through a massive $106.8 million shortfall. In Gwinnett County, the deficit is $18 million and in Sandy Springs, it's $2.9 million.

The $2.3 million Roswell has available to the program will help the city to meet $2,006,050 in additional requests for maintenance costs. Among the new items being budgeted for FY 2012 are a one-time bonus for full- and part-time employees of $325,115, $140,000 for radio communication system upgrades for public safety personnel and $95,703 to fund the new Deputy Chief position.

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

Keith Lee, the city's director of strategic planning and budgeting, echoed the mayor's assessment. "Roswell is in a very strong financial situation," he said. "The council did an excellent job of looking forward rather than being reactionary. As a result, the city was in good financial shape when the recession hit hardest. They made good use of the early retirement program and council and the management team worked together to achieve the good financial position we are now in."

After presenting the budget on May 9, city officials will hold the first of two public hearings on May 23 with the second one scheduled on June 1. The budget must be approved by July 1, the start of the city's fiscal year. 

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