Austell budget due for vote on June 4

Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins will be hearing from the public and deciding on the city’s 2018-19 budget on June 4. Courtesy of Austell

Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins will be hearing from the public and deciding on the city’s 2018-19 budget on June 4. Courtesy of Austell

A final public hearing and vote on Austell’s 2018-19 budget are scheduled for June 4.

The 6 p.m. meeting will be a work session since one was not held on May 28 in observance of Memorial Day.

The vote is expected to take place during the 7 p.m. meeting.

Both meetings will be held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 2716 Broad St. SW, Austell.

With no proposed tax increase, the $8.45 million proposed budget is an increase of almost $800,000 over this year’s budget.

Denise Soesbee, director of the city’s Finance Department, noted differences in the proposed 2018-19 budget - as compared to the 2017-18 budget - in a memo to Mayor Joe Jerkins and the City Council:

  • Salary increases for all full-time employees of 5 percent
  • Increases in healthcare premiums of 10 percent, beginning Jan. 1, 2019
  • Increases in retirement costs due to changes to the city's current retirement plan
  • Increases in funds provided to special events

All of these increases will be funded primarily by franchise fee revenue and charges for services, Soesbee added.

Information: AustellGa.gov.