Council Approves Budget, Rate Increase

The on Thursday night approved a budget for fiscal year 2013 that is $12.6 million lower than the previous year.

The $145 million budget does not include salary increases but will maintain staffing at current levels. The budget also does not include a property tax increase. 

According to the , the council also approved a 5 percent increase to the . officials said that move was necessary to maintain current operations, plan for future growth and pay off debts.

Both the budget and new rates go into effect on July 1.

In other business, the council:

• Had a first reading on an annexation request for a five-unit apartment building on Corinth Road from Bartow County's jurisdiction;
• Had a first reading for rezoning requests for two properties, one on Dixie Avenue and the other on East Cherokee Avenue, from multiple use to general commercial;
• Heard the quarterly report on the Urban Redevelopment Plan;
• Appointed Hans Lutjens and Lamar Pendley to the Board of Zoning Appeals;
• Appointed Nikki Murphy to replace Bryan Canty on the ;
• Re-appointed Hans Lutjens to the Airport Authority;
• Approved a contract with PT Solutions to use the for therapy sessions before the pool opens to the public on Thursday afternoons;
• Approved a contract with DataRx for pharmacy claims processing;
• Renewed a contract with Travelers Insurance for property and casualty insurance;
• Approved the purchase of upgraded Manager Plus software for the Garage Department at a cost of $7,723.73;
• Approved the purchase of an ERMCO electric transformer at a cost of $30,081;
• Approved the purchase of a narrow-band repeater in the amount of $6,880 from Coosa Valley Communications for the Public Works Department;
• Approved a bid of $54,960 from All Top Roofing to replace the roof of the ;
• Approved the purchase of mats and other gymnastics equipment at a cost of $10,175, which is being funded through a donation from the ;
• Approved the purchase of no lead brass fittings at a cost of $20,099.34;
• And approved the purchase of a one-ton truck from Wade Ford at a cost of $31,998.