Woodstock Residents Can Inspect City's 2014 Budget Tonight

The city of Woodstock will hold the first reading of its fiscal year 2014 budget tonight.

The first reading, which will include a public hearing, will be held during the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. at the Chambers at City Center. 

The proposed budget is set at $33.7 million, slightly higher than the current fiscal year budget of $33.6 million. 

Last month, the city explored the possibility of reducing the amount it annually contributes to the Sequoyah Regional Library System as a funding agent. However, the city decided to leave the funding amount — $45,062 — at the currently level. Sequoyah Regional Library System Director Susan White commended the city's decision.

"Since we had a really, really hard time balancing our fiscal year 2014 operating budget, if the city of Woodstock had reduced the amount to the library, we would have had a really hard time operating the libraries at our current level," she added. "Something would have had to be cut and at this point I am not sure what cuts would have been presented to the Cherokee County Library Board of Trustees. I am extremely thankful, due to the opinions of the Woodstock City Council, that at the present time we will not have to reduce any services."

Chief Financial Officer Robert Porche added the council decided to restore coffee service to the William G. Long Senior Center with using funds from the Parks & Recreation budget.

The council also did not include retreat costs in the initial budget and has agreed to hold the retreat locally in 2014.  

The proposed general fund is $16.9 million, water and sewer fund at $10.4 million and the remaining special revenue and service funds — which includes impact fees, SPLOST, hotel/motel taxes, Greenprints, capital equipment fund, debt services, workers and health compensation, tax allocation district and confiscated assets — are proposed at $6.4 million.

The city's millage rate is currently 7.889 mills. A homeowner whose house is valued at $200,000, with the standard $5,000 exemption, would pay around $592 in city property taxes.

The council will also consider approving an alcohol license request for Barrel & Barley at 9010 Main Street, a craft beer market slated to open in downtown later this year.