City Of Toccoa Holds First Reading Of Budget
The City of Toccoa had it’s first reading and public hearing for the fiscal year 2016 budget Monday night during the Toccoa City Commission meeting. Toccoa Mayor Terry Carter was pleased with the work by City staff. “I’d like to think City Manager (Billy Morse) and the department heads for their hard work on preparing this years budget. The budget is up eight and a half percent over last year but that is mainly due to SPLOST projects and the Davidson Creek dredging project.”
The total budget for fiscal year 2016 is just above Thirty Six million dollars. Carter addresses the SPLOST projects, “we plan to address Wards Creek as well as do about 1.5 million in water improvements and repairs. Henderson Falls Park will be addressed and from SPLOST VI there is about $310,000 that will be approved for projects next year.”
As stated earlier the dredging of Davidson Creek is an expensive endeavor. “The Davidson Creek project alone is 1.2 Million so that increased our overall budget this year.” says Carter; “However the operating budget itself is actually lowered by 2% due to the cost of gas.”
One of the budget emphases for the City of Toccoa over the last few years has been adding to the reserve. Carter says this year’s budget accomplishes that “we’ll be increasing our reserve accounts by almost $800,000 and that is with no increase in taxes or utilities. Much of that is due to efforts in expansion of our gas system.”
A second reading and public hearing on the City of Toccoa’s fiscal year 2016 budget will be in May. The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 11th.