What is the Proposed Budget for Peachtree Corners?
Below is the budget projected in a recent Special Called Work Session by city consultants.
In the City Council's May 22 Special Called Work Session a "Preliminary Expenditure Review" was presented to the council for discussion.
The information was presented by consultants John Kachmar and John McDonough, the city managers for Johns Creek and Sandy Springs, respectively, who are working as consultants for the new city of Peachtree Corners.
In the presentation, the consultants outlined a proposed budget using the following goals:
1. Determine level of service (What does the city need to provide? What do the citizens expect?).
2. Provide funding for start-up costs (facility and support equipment and call center).
3. Provide funding for insurance, finance and accounting, legal services and a comprehensive plan.
4. Provide funding for unforeseen start-up expenditures.
5. Establish a fund balance reserve (emergency fund).
The expenditures were based on the following assumptions, including hiring the a city staff of five employees (City Manager, City Clerk, Accounting Manager, Planning and Zoning Manager and an Administrative Assistant):
City Council $83,111
City Manager $159,829
General Operations $962,500
Finance $188,677
Legal Services $225,000
Facility Mangement $158,000
City Clerk $110,892
Contingency $350,000
Community Development $131,218
Designated Reserve* $500,000
TOTAL GENERAL FUND $2,869,225
(*The Designated Reserve amount would cover unforeseen emergencies, typically a reserve calls for an amount no less than three months of operating expenditures.)
This information was provided to the City Council for their review and consideration.
Bob
8:54 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I like how the General Operations are higher than the entire total was in the CVI study. I keep waiting for Alex to come back and tell me that he was wrong in his estimate on the cost of this new government.
Brian
9:16 am on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Buyer's remorse anyone? Also, who's our legal counsel, Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe?
Line item/ CVI Study Estimate/ Proposed Budget
City Manager/ $126,000/ $159,829
City Clerk/$81,900/$110,892
City Council/$33,000/$83,111
Legal Services/$68,548/$225,000
Warren Redlich
8:22 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
We do not generally represent cities. We sue them.
But for the right price, we'd consider it. Please let us know.
http://dewey-cheatham-howe.com/
Alex H
12:22 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I'd be interested to see what services are proposed for inclusion in the General Operations budget.
Tom H
1:00 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I have been to most of the special meetings where all this has been presented. The buget proposal is a good start and the council is moving forward with caution.
This is a new city that is putting together a new budget from scratch. Let's give them a chance to work out the details. The Patch seems to keep us informed.
Mary Beth
1:05 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I would also like to see further details in General Operations, as well as Facility Management and Community Development. These three comprise 44% of the budget.
Bob
2:27 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I want to be clear that I believe each of these costs are justifiable and necessary. What I am stating and what I stated before cityhood passed was that I did not believe the cost of this city would be such that I would not have to pay more for these services. So far it appears that I am correct.
J Ward
2:51 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
I am curious to know where the salaries of the (i) Accounting Manager, (ii) Planning & Zoning Manager and (iii) Admin Assistant are incorporated within the budget. I find it unusual that they would specifically state the salaries of the City Manager and the City Clerk, but not the remaining three positions. Do the Accounting Manager and Administrative Assistant make up the Facility Management and the Planning and Zoning Manager make up the City Council?
Bob Martell
3:43 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Great question Ward...we'll be sure to post that info as soon as it becomes available. Due to the time spent discussing the total of the budget, they didnt get into the specifics of individual line items...
Judy Putnam
5:15 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Ward, as I understand it the line items shown are not just salaries, but also benefits and the related costs for that office. For example, the City Clerk line includes the cost of all of the public notices the city is required to post to in its legal organ, the Gwinnett Daily Post. The Accounting Manager would be in Finance. The Planning & Zoning Manager would be in Community Development. The City Council has barely scratched the surface of the proposed budget. I understand the millage rate and budget will not be finalized until early July.
Richard T
7:45 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012
When you demand more government, you have to pay the price.
"Government is NEVER the best answer, but its ALWAYS the easiest."