Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2022/23

Community, Just For Fun

CLEVELAND, Ga.- City Administrator Kevin Harris presented the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2022/23 at a special call meeting on Jun. 6.

The council also approved the Water Authority proposed budget at their regular meeting. They also entered into an expense-sharing agreement with the Water Authority to check meters.

Harris presented the council with a detailed report of the city’s projected revenues and expenses, including each department’s individual budget. The general fund revenues and expenditures are estimated to be $4,145,545.00. The budget for the fiscal year 2021/2022 was $3,850,360.00, a 7.67% increase in the budget.

The increase is due to the current rise in inflation and the projected continued rise. The broad breakdown of the expenses is General Government( admin, shop, and court) $1,353,267.00, Public Safety (police and fire) $2,268,688.00, Streets $144,475.00, Sanitation $336,615.00, and Cultural and Recreation $42,500.00 for the proposed budget.

The Hotel/Motel fund revenue and expenditures are estimated to be $27,750.00. The starting budget for the year 2021/22 was $19,500.01 due to greater revenues than expected there was a budget amendment made to increase the budget to $20,880.00. The city is expecting the increased revenue trend to continue so they estimated a $6,870.00 or 32.90% increase in the new budget.

City Administrator Kevin Harris while presenting the budget proposal to the council.

The Water/Sewer fund revenue and expenditures are estimated at $2,793,440.00. The water portion of that had a budget of $1,709,870.00 for the fiscal year 2021/22. The new budget proposal is $1,716,555.00, giving a $6,685.00 or 0.39% increase to their budget. The sewer portion had a budget of $1,059,135.00 and the new proposal is $1,076,885.00, allowing for a $17,750 or 1.68% increase to the budget. This is again due to inflation.

The Capital Projects SPLOST revenue and expenditures are $1,101,000.00. The budget for last fiscal year was $951,000.00, there is a $250,000.00 or 26.29% increase this fiscal year. To view the full breakdown of the fiscal year 2021/22 budget please visit https://www.cityofclevelandga.org/government/audits_and_budgets.php. There will be another opportunity for the public to hear the information about the proposed budget, Monday, Jun. 13 during the City Council meeting.

During the public comment portion of the presentation, there was a comment made that the city needs to dedicate more to the maintenance of the city streets. The budget for the fiscal year 2021/22 was $138,215.00, the proposed budget is $144,475.00. That is a $6,260.00 or 4.53% increase. Part of the increase is $4,750.00 extra being allocated to Street Repairs.

The council was also presented with the Water Authority’s annual budget for their approval at the meeting. They approved it and it will now go back to Water Authority Director Edwin Nix. Nix presented his request to enter into an expense-sharing contract as well as other water authority items to the council at the May 9 council meeting. To review that meeting visit https://white.fetchyournews.com/2022/05/10/council-denies-rezoning-request/.

The Historic Society also informed the council that on Thursday, Jun. 9 Cleveland has a resident turning 100 years old. The resident is Ruth Lancaster. They also reminded the council that 72 years ago the movie I’d Climb the Highest Mountain began filming in Cleveland. The film included 150 children and 200 adults from the area as extras in the film. This is the trailer for the film that was released in 1951 http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zwMDyoFaQg.

Council Denies Rezoning Request

Announcements, Community, Education, Outdoors

CLEVELAND, Ga.- The Cleveland City Council denied a request by the Cleveland Church of God, Inc. for rezoning from a B2 district to a B1 district.

The council also heard from representatives of the Foundational Literacy nonprofit during the meeting. Edwin Nix from the Water Authority gave the council another presentation at the meeting over what is currently going on at the authority and asked for a future sit down to review a contract update.

Cleveland Church of God, Inc. was represented by Patrick Ballington for the request to rezone  Parcel 047D077 located at 1882 E. Kytle Street. This area is currently being used as a parking lot. The church has a buyer interested in purchasing the property and using it as a paid parking lot.

The buyer does not plan to make any changes to the property other than adding a small 100 sq. ft. office space. The space will only use electricity. The reason for the rezoning requests is due to wording in B1 that allows for a camper, RV, and automotive parking area.

Currently, B1 zoning is designated for the Historic Square District. Under this zoning, there are no setback requirements which is why is only used for that district.

Mr. Rush Mauney while delivering his opposition to the rezoning request.

Speaking in opposition to the request was a former council member, Rush Mauney. Mauney was against this request because of the no setback requirements and suggested that the council revisit the zoning designations rather than just grant requests to change the districts.

The council voted three to one to deny the request. The church may resubmit the rezoning request in six months for another consideration.

The flyer for Foundational Literacy

John and Vicki Alken founders of Foundational Literacy gave the council a presentation on what the organization does in the community. They have partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to provide 12 books each year to children from newborns to five years old.

They have partnered with Cleveland Care, the local Head Start program, and TGap Elementary school to get more books into the hands of children. The only request the Alkens made of the council was to help spread the word about their program. To find out more or to sponsor a child visit https://www.foundationalliteracy.org/.

Nix was next up to speak to the council. He gave an update on the amount of water the City used in Apr. which was 8.1 million gallons. Nix is currently working on the authority’s annual budget which he will present to the council 30 days prior to it going into place.

Another reason Nix came before the council was to ask to have a sit-down meeting to reevaluate the current contract between the City and the Water Authority. The contract has been in place the entire time Nix has worked with the authority for around 22 years.

He would like to see Cleveland take a contract similar to Helens where they pay a set monthly fee for water instead. He also requested that the city consider sharing the cost of calibrating the master meters with the authority instead of them being checked twice.

Mr. Edwin Nix while speaking about the water authority.

At this time the council took no action on either request by Nix. There was a possibility for the calibration cost to be on the next agenda.

The Chamber of Commerce also announced that on Thursday, May 12 they will be hosting a community block party just off the square in Cleveland. The event will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. and will feature local businesses such as 4 Elephants Catering. Everyone is invited to attend.

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