GAINESVILLE – The lone public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2020 Budget came and passed Tuesday evening as no one stepped forward to speak to the Gainesville City Council about the proposed $31.96-million spending plan.
(Click here to view the budget.)
City Manager Bryan Lackey reminded council members that because there was a full roll-back in the city’s millage rate only one public hearing was required. “So tonight will be the one required public hearing on the budget,” Lackey said. “Two weeks from tonight you will take up the final vote on the budget.”
Lackey credited new growth in the city as why city leaders were able to provide a full roll-back (from 3.364 mils to 3.322 mils) and still fund an increase in city spending. “Really because of the strength of that new growth…we’re able to propose this year a full roll-back on our millage rate.”
Lackey said the city still welcomed comment on the FY2020 budget, particularly if anyone was unable to attend tonight’s city council meeting. He said to email, call or write the city with comments and concerns about the budget and each city council member would be informed.
“Send it to us or the city council,” Lackey encouraged. “Even if it doesn’t come to the city council we make them aware of the comment that come in between now and the vote on the 18th.”
Budget construction is a never-ending task for the city, Lackey said. “I know we talk about budget in February…well, I know they are already working on projections for next year’s budget, FY2021.”
Part of that process is the upcoming SPLOST VIII (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) presentation. SPLOST VII expires next year.
“As we move into SPLOST VIII, which the County has begun talking about, calling for a referendum this November,” Lackey said. “They are calling for, right now, a six-year SPLOST on that…we’ll have more information on that as we move down the road and get closer to the November referendum that the County calls.”
