At Thursday’s city commission meeting, commissioners adopted the FY ’24 budget in the amount of $130,190,566.
The city held the public hearing for the budget at the June 12 meeting. No citizens stepped forward to make any comment for or against the budget.
The city has allocated $19,815,380 for the general fund, which includes $7.2 million for public safety (animal control, police, and fire). Utilities is the largest line item at $59,109,912. The Other Funds category, which includes a variety of line items including SPLOST funds and various grants, is the second largest section of the budget at $51,265,274.
When the time came to vote, commissioners voted unanimously to approve the budget.
Other agenda items the commission approved included:
- Appointing Juan Avalos and Darlene Salazar to the Keep Douglas Beautiful Board.
- Closing a portion of Columbia Avenue from West Bryan to West Ashley on July 15 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. in order for One Compelling Picture production company to film a protest scene as a part of a movie they are filming in Douglas.
- A $3 million GEFA Loan with 50 percent debt forgiveness for wastewater plant improvements.
- Awarding the water system upgrades/paving project to Ricketson Construction for $716,366.99.
- Appointed Commissioner Olivia Pearson to the Aging Advisory Council in the place of Commissioner Ed Taylor.
Commissioners also approved the development standards text amendment ordinance to the Unified Land Development Code and they recognized the mayor’s youth council and teen court seniors for 2023.