The Locust Grove City Council is considering an $18.5 million combined budget.
The general fund budget of nearly $9.2 million is funded mostly by local-option sales taxes, business taxes and user fees. No property taxes are proposed as has been the case in the city for the past 40 years, according to officials. Public safety and street maintenance are listed as the largest expenditures.
Total revenues and expenditures for enterprise funds are about $9.3 million and mostly involve utilities and hotel-motel revenue slated for economic development as well as some capital projects funded by SPLOST or impact fees.
The 9.5 percent growth in the budget from 2020 is in line with 10-15 percent population growth in recent years, city officials said. The budget schedule includes two public hearings during November and final adoption expected to come in early December.
In other business, the council addressed a potentially dangerous situation in a subdivision during its November 16 regular meeting. An ordinance was approved authorizing the installation of four-way stop signs in the Patriots Point neighborhood, at two locations along Patriots Point Street.
According to a city staff report, residents had requested assistance from police to combat excessive speeding and hazardous intersections in the subdivision, and the recommendation from the chief was to convert the intersections to four-way stops. Additional traffic calming measures could be required in the future if this does not prove effective.
The council approved architectural plans submitted for a building at 660 Market Place Boulevard that will eventually house a Moe’s Southwest Grill restaurant. The single-story rectangular building will consist of 4,320 square feet with main entrance and vehicle access facing Market Place Boulevard, according to a city staff report.
The council also voted to approve several updates to its police standard operating procedures, specifically in the areas of special operations, bias/profiling, mental illness, and courtroom security.
