No millage increase in Dougherty County’s proposed FY ‘17 budget

ALBANY — Dougherty County commissioners began their discussion of the county’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget Monday morning, a spending plan that calls for a 3 percent cost-of-living wage increase for employees, no millage increase and a 3.8 percent reduction in overall spending.

The final proposed budget tally of $76,479,465 is slightly more than $3 million less than the current $79,502,392 budget.

“I’d like to say that the Finance Committee recommends that we adopt this budget,” District 1 Commissioner Lamar Hudgins, the chairman of that committee, said. “I’d also like to point out that it includes a 3 percent COLA with no millage rate increase. That’s pretty much the bottom line.”

County Administrator Richard Crowdis started what is a planned month-long discussion of the budget by giving a detailed report on the county’s Solid Waste enterprise fund.

“Our proposed budget for the solid waste fund calls for $3,306,100, a 5.1 percent ($159,875) increase over last year’s budget,” Crowdis said. “I think the numbers show that this fund is in good shape.”

Noting that 91 percent of the enterprise fund’s revenue comes from tipping fees, which were recently increased by a consumer price index-adjusted 2 percent — from $38.21 to $38.97 per ton — Crowdis said he and Finance Director Martha Hendley are projecting $3 million in revenue from that source for the coming fiscal year.

“It’s as it’s always been: If it’s weighed, it’s paid,” Crowdis said.

Among the expenditures that are projected to eat into the revenues collected are needed construction of three new cells (7, 9 and 11), which come with an estimated price tag of $2.75 million. Other large budgeted expenses include a bulldozer ($450,000), a motor grader ($280,000) and paving on the hauling and entrance roads at the county landfill ($275,000).

“Our present capacity at the landfill for the (municipal solid waste or household garbage) is around four years,” Solid Waste Director Scott Addison said after the meeting. “With the construction of these cells and two others shortly after, we’ll increase our space back to a full 54-year capacity.”

The commission must approve a spending plan by June 30.

Also at Monday’s meeting, commissioners:

— Approved purchases of a dump truck body from Transport Equipment of Albany ($20,712) and a cab and chassis from Peterbilt of Albany ($105,130) for use by Public Works;

— OK’d a resolution that renews the local rental agreement with Aspire Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Services at 601 W. 11th Ave. for $38,000 a year;

— Agreed to rate structure changes sought by Dougherty EMS;

— Approved the Albany-Dougherty Comprehensive Plan 2026.