Hiawassee 2021-2022 budget hearing scheduled

HIAWASSEE, GA – The city council will hold a public hearing concerning the 2021-2022 budget on May 24 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

The proposed Hiawassee budget is available for viewing at city hall and should also be available online.

The council is set to adopt the budget on June 1 and held the first reading on the budget during the May 4 meeting.

During the April work session, council member Amy Barrett asked about SPLOST projects. Specifically, she wanted to know if more details were available for the SPLOST approved economic development projects. Currently, the city hasn’t outlined economic development projects and only around $80,000 has been collected thus far.

“We really don’t have any money to spend yet, but it’s coming. And it was a substantial amount of money, but it’s over a 10-year period. It’s not we’re going to get $2 million now,” Mayor Liz Ordiales stated.

Ordiales didn’t believe any of the current SPLOST money has been spent, but any of it could go to approved SPLOST projects in the future.

Franchise fee is down $25,000 because Windstream stopped providing cable.

General expenses for regular employees is proposed to increase from $40,000 to $75,000. Barrett asked about the extra $35,000

Ordiales explained it as an allocation, and previously the city clerk, court clerk, and other salaries were split between different budgets due to their function. This year they made a change to the existing setup.

Feature image from TaxCredit.net.