GCC approves budget

GAINESVILLE - The Gainesville City Council Tuesday night approved the city's new budget with councilman Bob Hamrick the lone hold-out.

Hamrick favored a motion by Councilman George Wangemann to use $1 million of the city's budget surplus to roll back the the tax rate but that motion failed. Mayor Pro-Tem Danny Dunagan then made a motion to accept the budget as presented saying the city's reserve is already smaller than it should be and the city would like to have a six-week reserve. That motion passed 4-1, with Wangemann joining Dunagan, Councilwoman Myrtle Figueras and Mayor Ruth Bruner voting "yes."

The council also approved the Fair Street Neighborhood Planning Unit, rezoning 252 pieces of property, consisting of 65 acres, in a drive by people in the Fair Street area to preserve as much of it as possible for single-family homes. The action by the council Tuesday night is the culmination of a four-year effort by proponents of the concept.

One of those spearheading the project, Belinda Lipscomb, says she believes the new Fair Street school which is to be constructed over the next two years will be a catalyst in revitalizing the Fair Street area similar to what is happening in Midtown.