Baldwin okays 2011-12 budget

BALDWIN - While other municipalities are struggling to balance their budgets, the north Georgia town of Baldwin finds itself with a $39,000 dollar surplus in the general fund and enough money to give city employees a small raise.

"It [the budget] gives the employees a 2-percent increase across the board for cost of living," said Mayor Jerry Neace. "Hopefully, when we look at it a little bit closer, we'll be looking at decreasing the millage rate by possibly a quarter mill."

Neace said the City Council okayed the 2011-2012 budget Monday night by a vote of 3-2.

Neace said the millage rate reduction will be up for discussion during the council's August work session. In addition, council members will decide in August if they will promote city finance/human resources director Karen Degges to the position of city administrator.