Jasper Employees Get Raise in New Budget; City Sets Millage

Featured Stories, News

During last week’s presentation of Jasper’s 2013 budget, City Clerk and Financial Officer Tacie Williams announced that the new budget includes a three percent raise for all city employees. However, she also said the budget reflects a five percent increase in health insurance next year. She added, though, that the city has not paid an increase in health insurance costs in the last few years, saying that the five percent was factored in as leeway because the city has not been notified of the approximate cost of the increases. During her presentation, Williams said the city finance committee had been reviewing the city’s finances in preparation for the budget. The city finance committee consists of Williams, Mayor John Weaver, Council Member Jim Looney, and Council Member John Foust.

The budget also includes items outside the ordinary operations of the city, such as a city park trail construction project to be named the Doris Wigington Park. According to the Mayor, the name of the park is not yet official. The park will be a 60-acre construction project on Hood Road to honor the former Jasper City Council member and once key figure in the community. The city will use a $100,000 Georgia Department of Natural Resources State Parks and Historic Sites Grant for the project. The grant comprises 66 percent of the total project cost, while Jasper is responsible for a $52,000 matching contribution. Bids on the project were returned in May.

Additionally, the city has plans to begin expansions to the city’s waste water treatment plant. The city plans to expand the city’s waste water treatment plant to increase force, which will include basic modifications. The city will also construct temporary filters for phosphorus removal and other water containments; chemical treatment equipment for phosphorus removal; equalization ponds; a septic receiving station for reading all septic meters; a new screen and grit structure, and an additional sludge holding tank. The project will be funded by a Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) loan. The city was first approved for a GEFA Clean Water State Revolving fund loan back in September. However, in order to receive the low interest which includes a loan of $1,800,000 for an interest of 1.83%, the city was required to officially approve a resolution to send to GEFA, which was also approved in last week’s meeting.

The complete 2013 budget is available at City Hall or on the city’s website. A public hearing was held at city hall on Monday, December 10th at 5:30 to discuss the budget where citizens had the opportunity to ask questions about the budget. But, the hearing was held before an empty room. Council will officially adopt the budget next Monday, December 17th.

Williams also presented the proposed 2013 millage rate for the city of 4.69 during last week’s meeting. Williams announced no increase in next year’s millage rate from the 2012 millage rate, adding that this was because Mayor John Weaver and the council had kept rates low in the past making it possible for the city to keep its millage rate constant for the last five years.

“Over the years we have been fortunate enough to grow as the county was growing through our internal growth as well as our annexations and we have been able to reduce the millage rate over the past years from 8.75 to… 4.69 because the property values have increased,”

Mayor Weaver said.

Back to Top