The Baldwin City Council had on hand copies of the city’s general fund budget for the public to review and discuss during a public hearing Friday evening, June 23. However, the council did not discuss details of the general fund budget, which is balanced at $3,617,336.
Acting Mayor Alice Venter stated the “Budget is at city hall. It is on our website.”
Budget overview
Now Habersham has reviewed the budget, and here are some of the details.
The city anticipates an increase in revenues of $613,092.25, an increase of 20.41% over last year’s budget.
Baldwin will use $150,000 of the prior year’s General Fund balance, as well as $483,068 in prior year fund balance from the Water and Sewer fund, to be transferred into the General Fund coffers. Prior year fund balances will make up $633,065.67 or 21.21% of the revenue in the General Fund for fiscal year 2024.
The city anticipates only a 4.28% increase in property tax valuation – a $35,195 increase over last year. According to Habersham County, only a preliminary tax digest has been released at this time. The county has property valuations estimated to increase 11.8% in its budget.
While Baldwin does not anticipate a millage rate increase, talks of a possible rollback remain uncertain. Acting Mayor Alice Venter expressed to Now Habersham that a rollback has been suggested but was unsure where that stood with the council at the moment.
The millage rate that was set last year is 9.342 for property owners in Habersham County and 3.465 mills for property owners in Banks County.
Baldwin transverses two counties, with about 25% of the property owners in Banks County and the remaining 75% of property owners in Habersham County. The Banks County property owners benefit from Local Option Sales Tax that rolls back their property taxes each year. It is proposed that Baldwin will receive approximately $150,000 in LOST from Banks County in 2024.
Expenditures in the General Fund will increase by $616,202 or 20.53% over last year’s budget.
Departments seeing significant expenditure increases over last year’s budget are: Administration-$187,685, Police-$203,285, Fire-$188,633, and Streets-$144,425.
What’s in the budget?
The budget will include eight positions this year, according to Venter. Many of those positions will not be filled until January or later. However, immediately following budget approval, the city will be seeking a city clerk and a code enforcement officer.
The budget includes the Chief Administrative Officer’s salary increase.
All employees will be receiving an 8% cost of living allowance this year, according to Venter. Those increases will become effective July 1. She adds that there is a pending pay study for those positions that fall within the general fund budget that still needs to be completed.
“When those numbers come back, then we’ll go back and adjust to match what comes back,” Venter said.
What’s out of the budget?
According to Venter, nearly all capital projects/purchases were removed from the general fund budget and moved to SPLOST or other restricted funds.
The Baldwin City Council will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, June 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the Municipal Courtroom at 155 Willingham Avenue. The public is encouraged to attend and speak during public comments about the proposed budget.
There will be another public hearing on the proposed budget. The date, time, and location will be determined during the regular council meeting Monday evening.
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