Woodstock Unveils Proposed 2017 Budget

WOODSTOCK, GA -- Woodstock city leaders got a first glimpse of its operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The budget was presented during the City Council's called meeting on Monday, May 16. The fiscal year 2017 budget, which will go into effect July 1 and runs through June 30, 2017, is proposed at $37.5 million, up from the current $36 million budget.

A breakdown of the city funds are as follows:

• general fund: proposed at $18.5, up from $17.7 million;
• water and sewer fund: proposed at $10.1 million, which is about the same as the current level;
• stormwater fund: proposed at $1.2 million, down from $1.7 million; and
• special revenue and internal service (SPLOST, amphitheater, impact fees) funds: proposed at $7.7 million, up from $6.6 million.

The budget is based upon the city implementing a partial millage rate rollback from 6.992 to 6.8 mills.

If the city were to leave its millage rate at the current level, that additional revenue could potentially fund a 3 percent COLA for employees (instead of a 2 percent factored into the budget), renovations at Fire Stations 10 and 14, a partial wireless upgrade, constructing a records retention facility, hiring a parks and recreation maintenance worker, three additional firefighter II/paramedics and renovations to the city's court and records office.

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The city's budget calls for the addition of four new positions for the city: a public information officer and three firefighters/paramedics. It also includes salary adjustments to make IT, GIS and building inspector positions more competitive and a police education incentive for newly qualified sworn personnel.

Some good news for water customers: you should not see any rate increases imposed by the city of Woodstock for the upcoming fiscal year.

Other projects proposed to be funded in the upcoming budget include improvements to the upper level at the Park at City Center; additional parking at and expansion of the William G. Long Senior Center, Dupree Park improvements to include a handicap accessible fishing pier, restroom and boardwalk; and financing eight additional police cars and a fire pumper truck.

The first reading of the budget will be held at the Monday, May 23 meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Chambers at City Center.

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