Police and Fire services will get the lion’s share of Baldwin tax dollars in 2016.
Of the $2,047,133.26 the city plans to spend in its general fund, $779,366 will go to fund police operations while $629,574 will go for fire protection.
Finance Director Kym Smith says Baldwin’s focus on public safety is higher than other communities their size, “It’s hard to compare us to other jurisdictions. If you look at the population base, we’re not that big but then look at the fact that we’ve got (highways) 441 and 365, we have Fieldale, and we have an active train track. The potential for disasters to happen is so much higher here.”
The biggest single expense in both public safety departments is personnel. In addition to regular salaries, the city spends on insurance as well as state and federal employee taxes. “The only department that I can think of that has a significant increase (in funding) this year is the Police Department,” Smith explains. “Part of that is to add some personnel and part of it is to give rank to some officers.”
Baldwin doesn’t actually bring in enough tax money to cover both departments. In total, taxes only make up about 44% of the town’s total revenue. The rest comes from various fees and fines as well as grant money from state and federal sources and the money employers pay for background checks through the Police Department.
In addition to the General Fund, Baldwin’s Water and Sewer departments bring in about $3 million annually. State law requires that profits from these Enterprise Funds be spent exclusively on providing services meaning it will be spent on water treatment, maintenance, improving lines and other equipment within the Water and Sewer departments.
Baldwin also has almost a half million dollars from the various Habersham and Banks County Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds. That money is already allocated to specific projects and purposes approved by voters.
Baldwin City Council is expected to approve the final version of the 2016 spending plan at their next regular meeting on June 22.
