Braselton mayor calls for big budget cut

But at a called meeting to adopt the budget on June 20, Mayor Orr made a motion to approve the document with a 10 percent reduction to be determined by town manager Jennifer Dees. That would have cut $263,200 from the initially-proposed budget.

“My reason for that is just general concern for the overall economy,” Orr said.

Council member Peggy Slappey questioned if the sudden budget change was too drastic.

“I understand the need to consider some tightening of the budget,” she said. “Could we consider that at 5 percent for discussion sake, instead of 10 percent?”

Orr said town manager Dees would have the “freedom” to determine how best to spend the remainder — or 90 percent — of the budget. Slappey said she believed that the 10 percent cut was aggressive.

Orr asked Dees what options the town would have to trim 10 percent from its general fund budget.

“There are a couple of different options,” Dees said. “We could layoff a good bit of the police force. We could close the library.”

She continued that Braselton would have to suspend all road projects for the next year. The budget included funds for the town green and streetscape project in downtown.

“I actually have no idea what I would do,” Dees told the town council. “But, it would definitely be a significant reduction in force because salaries are the largest things we have. And you would have to look at departments that have one or more employees.”

The Braselton general fund budget called for a three percent pay increase for all employees. Those employees who are slated to get a “step” increase for experience in working in the same position in the town will get an additional boost in pay.

Orr said he would rather cut projects, instead of personnel, from the budget. He asked Dees what projects the town could eliminate. Dees said Braselton had to move forward with its town green project because it is required in the bonds issued to fund the venture.

“I don’t know, mayor, I’ll have to look and see,” Dees said. “But if that’s what the council wants, that’s what I’ll do.”

Council member Tony Funari said he believed that the budget was “well thought out” and the town council should postpone a vote on the proposal. He also pointed to several items in the document that the council highlighted at its annual retreat — when elected officials layout their plans for the coming 12-18 months.

At its retreat in March, the Braselton Town Council named an emergency notification system for residents among one of its top goals. It further agreed to upgrade its technology, including improving the town’s website to make it friendly for smartphones.

In addition, the council wanted to have consultants look at a downtown study, such as new parking options and potential business tenants.

Orr dropped his initial proposal to cut 10 percent from the general fund budget and instead just cut $65,000 in economic development projects that the council outlined at its retreat.

“I think taking that $65,000 out of economic development that’s going in the budget is not going to have an enormous effect on the operations of this town or provision of services to your citizens,” Dees said.

And if revenue rises for the town, the council could later amend the budget to include the projects from the retreat, she added.

“It’s easier to put things in than take them out,” Dees said.

The town council approved the budget unanimously with the $65,000 reduction — which will include $35,000 in technology improvements, $15,000 for an emergency notification system and $15,000 for consultants for a downtown study.

Other projects that the town council considered at its retreat — and adopted in its budget — included $30,000 for swings in the Braselton Park and $15,000 for consultants to study the “best use” of the town’s 71-acre park on Ga. Hwy. 124 in Barrow County.

Braselton doesn’t have a property tax and the adopted budget doesn’t include one, either.

—Kerri Testement