'Lot of Stability' in Suwanee 2014 Budget

Continuing a pattern of relative financial stability, Suwanee city officials have prepared a balanced $12.1 million budget for fiscal year 2014.

During a recent public hearing on the budget at City Hall, City Manager Marty Allen said that there are "no substantive changes" in the proposed spending plan from the one that is in place.

"There is a lot of stability" in the budget, Allen said. "For that we are very thankful."

The overall figure is a slight increase from the $12 million budget for fiscal 2013. Property taxes, a key source of revenue, declined by 1 percent, to $4.96 million. However, other revenues showed an uptick.

As before, the largest allocation of outgoing funds is for police (37 percent), with public works (which maintains the parks, roads and utilities) second at 17 percent.

Other notes about the Suwanee 2014 budget:

• "Various business taxes" is the largest single category of incoming funds, at 27 percent. This includes alcoholic beverage taxes, licenses and permits.
• Residential property taxes is the No. 3 income source, at 16 percent.
• The budget does not -- repeat, does not -- assume the extension of the current Gwinnett SPLOST program. Suwanee would have to vote to revamp the capital improvements budget if officials call for a vote on Nov. 5, and if voters then renew the current 1 percent sales tax.
• Economic Development and Financial Services each account for 6 percent of expenditures.

A second public hearing on the budget will be June 25 at City Hall. The budget should also be on the City Council agenda on that date.

The full 2014 draft budget is available on the city website.