The Cornelia City Commission will hold a public hearing tonight on the city’s proposed 2015 budget. The proposal represents a slight increase of $23,065 over this year’s budget. It includes a new wage schedule for some departments. City Manager, Donald Anderson, says the schedule adjusts salaries to make them more competitive with surrounding cities such as Clarkesville and Baldwin. He says Cornelia’s employee turnover rate has doubled in the past year and city leaders hope that by raising salaries they can better retain and attract employees. Cornelia’s proposed budget includes a 2.5% cost of living increase for employees not covered under the new wage schedule.
This is the first public hearing on Cornelia’s proposed budget. City commissioners are expected to vote on it in November. The budget must be approved by Dec. 31.
Tonight’s Cornelia City Commission meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Municipal Courthouse/Fire Department complex located at 163 Larkin Street in downtown Cornelia. A public, pre-meeting workshop begins at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall.
