Update, 11:08 pm:
Mayor Randy Toms and the Warner Robins council approved a budget for 2019. Chief financial officer Holly Gross says when they first came out with the budget, there was a 2.5 mill increase, meaning higher property taxes for people living in Warner Robins.
Gross says, "I don't believe any of you were pleased with that, so we went back to the drawing board."
Councilman Tim Thomas says he's satisfied with the budget and happy they've come to an agreement.
"And we are still pretty healthy in the reserves, we'll be three months in our reserves and I am happy doing that. I would much rather do that than raise taxes," says Thomas.
Another big issue that was resolved was funding for vacant police officer positions. Thomas says the city will use $1 million of reserve funding to pay for vacant police officer positions. David Glass says he hopes that the 17 to 18 vacant police officer positions will be filled since they now have the funding.
"I think it'll be a whole lot safer because people with no legs rely on the police department," says Glass.
Glass says he served as a United States Marine and that he knows how important it is to have enough officers who can protect people living in Warner Robins. "The more police we get here in Warner Robins, the better off we are going to be."
Glass says he doesn't know why it took to long to approve a budget, but he's glad it doesn't mean higher property taxes
Glass says, "I think they should have done this a long time ago."
Glass says he doesn't feel the streets are safe enough with the current amount of vacant officer positions.
"Since Friday, I have seen about 3 policemen come by here, and that's not enough," says Glass.
Councilman Thomas says he believes going into next year's budget, the council will be in good shape. He says the city has about four months or $13 million to $14 million in the reserve account.
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The Warner Robins mayor and council have approved next year's budget.
The council passed a budget to fund the 17 to 18 police officer positions that are vacant.
Councilman Tim Thomas says those funds will come out of the reserves and cost about $1 million.
Earlier, Mayor Randy Toms and Councilman Thomas discussed to either fund or defund unfilled positions.
Mayor Toms also says he thinks the city's water, sewer, and natural gas funds will reach and exceed budget revenues this year.
Check back with 13WMAZ for updates.