The City of Lawrenceville has approved a new budget that will focus on three key areas – Personnel, Capital Investments and Strategic Planning. The $172-million annual budget is a 17% increase from the year before and was approved during the monthly council meeting.
The budget increased due to increased capital expenditures, inflationary costs (particularly for gas and fuel), and salary/staffing increases. The current millage rate will stay the same at 2.228 mills.
The first focus mentioned was accounting for city personnel needs. The budget includes pay raises of both salary and benefits for city employees at a total of $2.1 million. It also includes $452,000 to create five new positions in the Police Department, Human Resources, Public Works, and Planning and Development. They also hope to create an employee residency incentive and the budget will allow for the expansion of the police co-responder program, Project F.I.R.S.T.
The second focus was related to capital investments. $18.3 million will go to capital assessments, which includes roads, electric grids, natural gas distribution, stormwater system, public safety, and facility maintenance and improvement.
The new budget also includes a special focus on Strategic Planning Documents, including the creation of an Election Outreach Strategic Plan, Citywide Future Land Use Plan, Citywide Comprehensive Transportation Plan, Citywide Stormwater Master Plan, and a Citywide Housing Needs Assessment.
“Our three central budget initiatives are key to the continuing success of our city and support the budgetary vision of Mayor and Council, who speak for the community,” said Chuck Warbington, City Manager. “Investing in human capital through market salary adjustments and creation of new positions for our growing city ensures competitive compensation to attract and retain top talent in all departments.”
The budget is set for the next fiscal year which begins July 1.
The full budget report can be found on lawrencevillega.org.
