City Finance Committee Hammers Out 2007 Draft Budget.
The Rome City Commission’s finance committee heard the first draft of the City’s 2007 budget Wednesday from City Manager John Bennett. According to Bennett, the City’s fiscal year budget is actually several budgets in one.
Bennett said this year’s budget, as it stands right now, is balanced and submitted without use of money from the General fund. Bennett also added that the budget shows an estimated increase of 3.4% from the tax digest and he says this is all without an increase in the millage rate.
One item all of the Commissioners on the Finance Committee were extremely proud of is the fact that the City’s Health care premiums, basically the portion paid by the employee, are not going up this year. Commissioner Wright Bagby said, “we need to make a big deal of this”. He pointed out that almost all other plans that compare to the city’s coverage have gone up substantially this year as they do most years.
Bennett also pointed out they have included slight increases in the yearly budgets for the Symphony, Arts Council, and the Open Door Home. Each of those groups will get an additional 500 dollars in 2007.
Money is also included for the newly created 211 Information phone service. The City is kicking in 10,700 dollars to go along with the County’s contribution of 19,000 dollars.
Bennett says they have also included money to pay for larger street signs along Rome’s major roadways such as Shorter Avenue. Apparently the current signs use 4 inch letters and are very difficult to see. The new Signs will have 6 inch bold letters and be much easier to see. Officials have included 10,000 in 2007 and will include more in 2008 to continue the project.
One of the largest increases in expenditures came from the cost of the City’s fleet insurance program. According to the budget, that item shows an increase of nearly 20%.
The proposed budget also includes raises for City employees of 2% to 5%
The Finance committee will meet once more to go over the proposed budget before it is submitted to the full City Commission for approval.
