City Council Special Call Budget Work Session

CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL CALL BUDGET WORK SESSION MINUTES Wednesday, May 14, 2025 Council Chambers 3:00 PM 70 S. Clayton St, GA 30046 Call to Order PRESENT Mayor David Still Council Member Bruce Johnson Mayor Pro-Tem Victoria Jones Council Member Marlene Taylor-Crawford Absent - Council Member Austin Thompson Approval of Agenda Motion to approve agenda as presented made by Mayor Pro-Tem Jones, Seconded by Council Member Taylor-Crawford. Voting Yea: Mayor Still, Council Member Johnson, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones, Council Member Taylor- Crawford Council Business There is no public comment during this section of the agenda unless formally requested by the Mayor and the Council. 1. Discussion of FY 2026 Proposed Budget Keith Lee, Chief Financial Officer presented this item on Citizen Finance Committee, Capital and Millage Rate, then answered questions from Council. Final Adjournment Motion to adjourn made by Mayor Pro-Tem Jones, Seconded by Council Member Johnson. Voting Yea: Mayor Still, Council Member Johnson, Mayor Pro-Tem Jones, Council Member Taylor- Crawford Minute Signatures ________________________ David R. Still, Mayor ________________________ Karen Pierce, City Clerk FY 2026 Work Session Day 2 May 14, 2025 Agenda • Summary of Citizen Financial Committee • Capital Projects • Capital Projects – not funded  Summary of Citizen Financial Committee Comments • Love walking around downtown • Enjoy the events • Love the changes around town Questions • What is the church on Gwinnett Drive being used for? • What is happening with Honest Alley? • What are the demographics of the Police Department? • Provide statistics related to the ReCAST program. • How to register complaints with Code Enforcement? Suggestions • Would like Planning and Zoning and DDA meetings to be available by video • Would like a quiet zone around the depot area related to trains • Provide an event magnet for refrigerators • Would like a grocery store in the downtown area • Provide crime map Capital Projects Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) $35,000,000 $30,000,000 $25,000,000 $20,000,000 $15,000,000 $10,000,000 $5,000,000 $0 FY 2026 FY 2027 FY 2028 FY 2029 FY 2030 FY 2031 StormWater $4,620,000 $1,300,000 $1,300,000 $1,300,000 $1,300,000 $1,300,000 Solid Waste $171,000 $334,500 $80,000 $114,000 $80,000 $80,000 Gas $4,775,000 $4,899,580 $5,638,660 $5,020,780 $4,463,070 $6,748,070 Electric $4,975,000 $6,960,000 $6,900,000 $9,075,000 $8,475,000 $8,375,000 Speed Zone Camera $651,769 $575,393 $575,393 $132,325 $132,325 $132,325 General Fund $8,644,730 $6,439,570 $6,416,430 $5,665,070 $5,806,180 $6,280,430 SPLOST $6,899,485 $7,248,558 $7,427,458 $5,844,891 $0 $0 8 CIP – Non-SPLOST (Proposed FY 2026) Engineering $3,950,000.00 IT $1,020,000.00 Police $651,769.00 Streets $1,400,000.00 Economic Development $50,000.00 Damage Prevention $14,730.00 Fleet $1,810,000.00 Sanitation $171,000.00 Electric $4,975,000.00 Gas $4,775,000.00 Stormwater $4,520,000.00 Gov Bldg $500,000.00 $23,837,499.00 9 CIP – Non-SPLOST (highlights) • Art Commission Projects: $50,000 • Fleet Replacement: $1,740,000 • GIS Stormwater & Utility Network Conversion: $600,000 • Leaf Truck: $300,000 • Street Resurfacing: $1,000,000 • Facility Maintenance and Equipment: $500,000 • Police Equipment: $651,769 • Quiet Zones North Clayton at Maltbie: $100,000 (Feasibility) • Parking Lot at Culver/Pike & Calaboose Alley Improvements: $600,000 • McArthur/Crogan Trail Extension w/ Pike raised ped. Table: $1,000,000 10 CIP – Non-SPLOST (highlights) • Electric Distribution System: $4,975,000 – Honest Alley underground project $1,500,000 • Gas Distribution System: $4,775,000 • Solid Waste Carts: $171,000 • Stormwater Maintenance (Stormwater Fund) – On-going Maintenance: $1,000,000 – Sandalwood Project: $2,650,000 – Detention Ponds@ Laren Kay Ct & Leigh Kay: $500,000 (City Owned) – 460 Paper Mill Drainage Improvement $150,000 – Old Shadowlawn Cemetery Repair $150,000 11 CIP – SPLOST: $6,899,485 (highlights) • Parking – 232 W. Pike Street: $750,000 – Demo and New Parking (Culver/Pike St): $450,000 – S Perry St. Acquisition: $550,000 • Roads, Streets & Bridges – Gwinnett Dr Widening from Crogan to Nash: $1,833,655 (construction) – Collins Hill Industrial Way: $1,784,040 (construction) – Longleaf Dr @ Scenic Hwy Median: $100,000 (construction) • Trails – Lawrenceville Gateway Trail Head: $500,000 (At GGC) 12 CIP – SPLOST: $6,899,485 (highlights) • Utility System Improvements – Electric Meters: $411,000 (Replacement) 13 Capital Projects – not funded CIP - Unfunded • Redland Creek Greenway Trail (phase 2): $10,000,000 • Springlake at Papermill Roundabout: $2,000,000 • Long Leaf Median: $500,000 • Lightnin Drive Connection: $2,000,000 • Pike Park Drive at Pike Street new traffic signal: $800,000 • Nottingham Dr Cul De Sac: $750,000 • Pedestrian Bridges: $5,000,000 • Pike at Buford Dr • Crogan at Scenic Dr 15 Millage Millage Rate • HB 581 Changes – The City has chosen not to opt out of the Value Offset Homestead – Homesteaded properties will be capped at the inflationary rate published by the Department of Revenue Commissioner • Estimated Homestead Property Tax Reduction based on the value offset homestead: $68,000 – Based on aggregate homesteaded property increases from preliminary information – We Certified an estimated Rollback Millage Rate by April 15, 2025 – The estimated Rollback Millage Rate is estimated to be 2.759 17 Millage Rate • Budget assumes Millage Rate remains at 3.26 – Millage Rate the same as FY 2025 – Based on the Preliminary Digest figures the digest will grow by 398,861,120 • 38,367,240 of this amount is associated with Homesteaded Properties • 16,095,320 of this amount is in the TAD – General Fund Revenue Budget increase of $884,106 – The City will be required to hold 3 millage public hearings and advertise a Tax Increase if we do not use the rollback rate • Tax Bills will be required to have the following language: – The adopted millage rate exceeds the estimated roll-back rate as stated in the annual notice of assessment that you previously received for this taxable year, which will result in an increase in the amount of property tax that you will owe. 18 Upcoming Dates MAY 2025 • Wednesday, 28: 1st Public Budget Hearing 7pm JUNE 2025 • Wednesday, 11: Cancel??? 3rd Council Budget work day 3pm • Wednesday, 11: 2nd Public Budget Hearing 5pm • Wednesday, 25: Adopt Budget at Council Meeting 7pm Workday Topics • Does Council have any additional topics to discuss? • Is the 3rd Work day needed? Questions