Washington city leaders met Monday morning to look further at the 2008 budget with an eye toward carving some 6 to 7 percent off planned expenditures to meet expected revenues.

With a preliminary budget of $16,560,000 and expected revenues of $14,656,000, city leaders examined budget items at length to see what could be trimmed or eliminated to balance the budget, which is required by Georgia state law.

City Administrator Mike Eskew, City Clerk Debbie Danner, and city Finance Coordinator Sherri Bailey met with Mayor Willie Burns and city councilmen Ray Hardy, Ed Pope Jr., Pamela Eaton, Rev. G.L. Avery, and Maceo Mahoney to discuss trade-offs in the budget.

The council will meet again at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 28, to finalize the budget cuts prior to a millage rate hearing set for Thursday, November 29.

A public hearing on the city's 2008 draft budget is set for December 10.

In Monday's meeting, the council took a sharp knife to expenditures, recommending the deletion of two new police cars, a truck for a meter reader, a sanitation scooter and a used truck for the Streets, Buildings and Grounds Department. They also agreed to advertise and sell the DARE car.

The city leaders discussed options for meeting utility costs, such as putting a monthly surcharge for capital improvements on the water and sewer bill rather than increase rates. A two percent increase electrical rates is expected to be recommended, after no rate increase last year.

Mayor Burns reminded the councilmen that he had promised to have public meetings to inform the public on issues, and he expected to set a meeting in January to explain electric rates to Washington citizens.

Notices for the public budget hearings and the Mayor's public informational meetings will be published in The News-Reporter.