The looming 2019 budget vote was on a lot of peoples' minds at Monday night’s council meeting in Warner Robins.
The first five public comments at the meeting involved various concerns over the budget proposals.
But Mayor Randy Toms and city council did not vote on a final budget draft.
Instead, they said they're combining two different proposals.
But Mayor Toms said there is good news for tax-payers in his city.
“We are working very diligently, together, to make sure there is not a millage rate [increase] for the citizens of Warner Robins,” Toms said after the meeting.
Mayor Toms said neither his nor the council's proposal includes a millage rate increase for next year.
Councilman Tim Thomas confirmed there was not an increase in his proposal and said he would not vote for one.
Councilman Thomas and Councilwoman Carolyn Robbins said their proposal, announced last Friday, balances the budget partly by not funding unfilled positions.
“If you look at the police department, for example, we got 17 vacant positions, just in police officers, that's a million dollars when you look at benefits, retirement,” Thomas said after the meeting.
Thomas said his budget does not eliminate the positions, but waits until they're filled to fund them.
Other cuts and changes include using condemned funds to buy police vehicles and pulling half a million dollars from sewer, water and natural gas revenues to balance the budget.
Mayor Toms said his newest proposal is similar, but there is one significant difference.
“We probably do need to cut some positions, but I'm never in favor of un-funding law enforcement positions, and that was my big sticking point,” Toms said.
Mayor and council said they'll come to a compromise soon, but they guarantee it will be without a tax increase.
Mayor Toms said they'll vote on the budget at their next regularly scheduled meeting on July 2nd, because the actual deadline of July 1st is a Sunday.
The general fund is expected to be budgeted for roughly $44,415,293 in fiscal year 2019.
At the moment, the budget ordinance includes a provision transferring $2,035,600 and $2,610,600 from the water, sewer and natural gas funds to the general fund.