Young, cost-cutting city $800,000 ahead, cautious

One quarter into its existence as Georgia’s newest city and it appears Dunwoody will reach its lofty goal of offering more services for the same price tag, but only if it keeps cutting costs.

Revenues were up $120,000 for the first quarter, while the city held expenses down nearly $700,000, as compared with projections, according to a quarterly report released last week.

But there are still two areas of concern: The city is on a pace to fall nearly $1 million short on its business licenses and another $60,000 short on its alcoholic beverage licenses by year’s end, City Manager Warren Hutmacher said.

With the city already going $79,000 over on a contract with Boyken International to get the new city on its feet, Dunwoody is pushing savings wherever it can.

“It clearly has our attention,” Hutmacher said of the 50 percent collection rate on business licenses. “We have got to be very cautious, still.”

The deadline for business licenses was April 15, though because of complaints from owners who said they never received the city’s application, Dunwoody will accept late forms.

Dunwoody began operations on Dec. 1, just months after more than 80 percent of people in the northern DeKalb County area voted to incorporate.

The city launched its 48-member police force on April 1. The department will cost $5.7 million this year, or about 40 percent of the $14.4 million city budget.

Increasing revenue and continued savings will be critical for later in the year, when there will be fewer large-ticket items to cut or eliminate to meet the budget.

“We are $800,000 ahead of plan, and that takes some doing,” City Councilman Robert Wittenstein said. “I’d like to see that continue.”

The city plans a full review of the budget by June 30. Hutmacher said he will continue to monitor revenue daily.