Alpharetta weighing 2016 budget plan

The Alpharetta City Council Monday night began considering the mayor’s proposed 2016 FY budget. The $63.4 million general fund document ($89.9 million with all funds included) seeks to maintain the city’s 5.750 millage rate, the same as 2015. Officials estimate the property tax digest will grow 2 percent.

Budget planners said operating expenditures of the general fund are proposed to increase 3.5 percent from the 2015 fiscal year. Among the increases: an 8.5 percent jump in city group insurance premiums, a 4 percent increase in pension fund contributions and 3 percent growth in departmental maintenance and operations budgets.

Among operating and capital initiatives proposed in the budget: a downtown beautification and sculpture effort, an expansion of the city’s food truck alley program, outdoor recreation programs, major improvements at several intersections and replacement of public safety radios.