City of Canton issued the following announcement on July 15.
At the July 15 Canton City Council meeting, the Mayor and Council approved the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 Operating Budget. The adopted $88 million budget increased by $21 million from the 2021 Operating Budget of just over $67 million. The increase includes $3.1 million attributable to an increase in the general fund of the City, and the remaining $18 million from a mixture of increased revenues in sales taxes, impact fees, proceeds from American Rescue Plan Act, and the use of fund balance. The budget also reflects $7.5 million in increased funds in the Water and Sewerage Fund related to bond proceeds for the wastewater treatment plant expansion.
"After participating in eight budget reviews, I can honestly say the process this year has been the most productive and rewarding collaboration to date,” said Mayor Bill Grant. “With a clear consensus to align the City's FY2022 operating budget around the primary goals identified by citizens in our Roadmap for Success, Mayor and Council, city management, and our department heads worked together to deliver a budget with accountability and transparency. I am very proud of our team, and we are extremely excited to advance many of our capital projects and new programs while continuing to maintain the lowest millage rate of any city in Cherokee County."
The City of Canton operates with 122 full time employees (currently 118 of these positions are filled). The budget includes a 5 percent cost of living allowance for City employees to reconcile the previous two years of employment cost index increases (2.8 percent in 2020 and 2.0 percent in 2021). The budget also accounts for the creation of 10 new positions in beginning in October.
The general fund budget launches a variety of specific programs for the City of Canton related to American Rescue Plan Act funds earmarked for local government recovery. A new Housing Trust Fund to be managed by a new Housing & Residential Services Manager will work to assist with programs of housing security for low to moderate income residents, improving public housing, remediating blighted residential properties, first-time homebuyer assistance programs, and overall concierge services for residential needs. The City will start an Office of Economic Development & Tourism to work with small businesses, the impacted tourism industry and build a new cultural arts program. With more miles of public roadways and our growing parks and trails system, the budget also reflects the addition of staff in public works to keep up with maintenance.
In a move to be more efficient with vehicles in the fleet, Canton will begin partnering with Enterprise Fleet Services for leased vehicles, which will reduce long term maintenance costs and improve access to alternative fuel vehicles.
Funding is also in the budget to review a citywide transportation plan, expand community events, replace Police tasers, upgrade technology for the Building & Safety Services Department, and hire an additional inspector for community development related to the demands of construction projects.
Major expenditures for projects associated with special funding sources, including the construction of the Archer Street parking deck, continued expansion of the water pollution control plant, Old Ball Ground sewer expansion, completion of the Etowah River Trail connection from Heritage Park to Boling Park, upgrades to playground equipment and surfaces, restrooms at Heritage Park, heating and air system improvements to public facilities, expansion and improvements for Harmon Park, transition to automated water meter reading, and renovations to Municipal Court are also reflected in the budget.
The current millage rate of 5.4 mills is the lowest millage rate since the 1960s for the City of Canton, accounting for all City services: police, fire, recreation, streets, municipal courts, community development, code compliance, building and safety services, and administration. Canton’s millage rate is the lowest for any municipality in Cherokee County.
Original source can be found here.
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