Q: A recent AJC article mentioned that Stockbridge passed a balanced budget. It didn’t state the total budget. Can you tell us that, please?
—Gerald Wade, Stockbridge
A: Stockbridge operates on a calendar year, so it passed its annual budget – about $9 million for 2013 — in December. The city council recently adopted a budget amendment so its audited "year end" financials will be "reflected as a true balanced budget as required by state law," the ordinance stated. "The purpose of such is so that revenues equal expenditures to reflect actual activity throughout the prior year," Stockbridge mayor Mark Alarcon told Q&A on the News in an email. The city ended the fiscal year with $478,525 more in revenue than was first budgeted in its general fund as of Dec. 31, 2012, according to audited financial statements. It also stated the city under-spent its general fund by 20.4 percent, or $1,494,970. "Excess funds were transferred to reserves as well as other funds to defray the cost of providing sanitation, water and sewer service to city residents," the release stated.
Q: What are the Dog Days of summer? How did they come about?
—Rick Brewer, Smyrna
A: The Dog Days are most often associated with the hottest part of summer, a 40-day period that begins July 3 and ends Aug. 11, according to "The Old Farmer's Almanac." The ancient Egyptians and Romans thought the rise of Sirius, a bright star also known as the Dog Star, helped heat the earth during this time.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
About the Author
