Washington city leaders meet in retreat; budgets, plans, assignments discussed

The Washington city government met in a retreat Thursday, making adjustments on the 2006 budget, discussing the 2007 budget, reviewing ongoing programs, and setting committee assignments for the coming year.

Mayor Willie Burns met with council members Pamela Eaton, Ray Hardy, Maceo Mahoney, Rev. G.L. Avery, and Ed Pope Jr., at Ficklin Presbyterian Church, along with City Administrator Mike Eskew, City Attorney Barry Fleming, and City Clerk Debbie Danner. Council member Nathaniel Cullars Sr. did not attend.

The amendments to the 2006 budget were only moving money from one department to another, Eskew said, not increasing the budget. Council members discussed 2006 expenditures and how money was expended and received during the budget year. After extensive discussion, the council passed the adjustments to the 2006 budget.

The council also passed an annual incentive pay for city employees, and approved the exchange of a day off for the Presidents' Day holiday for the day after Thanksgiving for 2007.

The council members also agreed to the mayor's committee assignments for the year. Rev. Avery is on the Fire, Electric, and Internet Committees; Councilman Cullars is assigned to the Historic Properties- Planning & Development Committee, and the Water and Sewer Committee, and the Streets Buildings and Grounds (SBG) Committee.

Councilman Eaton is assigned to the Police Committee, SBG, and Historic Properties-Planning & Development Committee. Councilman

Hardy is on the Sanitation, Electric, and Internet committees; Councilman Mahoney is on the Sanitation and Police Committees; and Councilman Pope is on the Water/Sewer and Fire committees.

Council members also discussed problems with the county tax digest. The city cannot send out tax bills until the county's tax figures are finalized.

The 2007 budget was reviewed and discussed at length and in detail, and council members considered individual budget items ranging from an upgrade to the 911 system to repairing bathrooms at the police department.

The council then tackled the subject of financing the $1.5 million renovation to the Edward M. Pope Community Center. Since Georgia law prohibits a city council from obligating money beyond its current members' term, the city will use the Georgia Municipal Association's Bricks and Mortar program to address the financing.

The plan worked out is to advertise the Pope Center for sale, but offered in a way that the only prospective buyer can be the GMA. The GMA will buy the Pope Center, then will sell it to Farmers State Bank, which will then lease it back to the city. "The GMA does this all the time," Eskew said.

The council approved the plan.