Wednesday, December 4, 2024–8:51 a.m.
-Mo Burge, Rome News-Tribune-
This story is possible because of a news-sharing agreement with the Rome News-Tribune. More information can be found at northwestgeorgianews.com
Rome’s financial staff continues to go line by line in preparing the 2025 budget, which is shaping up to be tighter this year after recent pay increases, especially for police and fire services.
Finance Director Toni Rhinehart said the city paid out more than expected on city-funded employee insurance claims and the increase in salaries for some departments. Those factors have led to a decrease in the general fund balance of approximately $3.5 million.
While police and fire services are a significant piece of the pie, Rhinehart said all departments are prioritized in the budget conversation.
“It’s a package deal,” Rhinehart said. “All departments are important.”
The proposed budget has less in projected revenues than in projected expenditures, but Rhinehart said the fund balance is sufficient to supplement any shortfall as a short-term solution.
The challenge isn’t in the coming year’s budget, but future ones. Rhinehart said she has had conversations across departments on the need to think conservatively moving forward.
“We want to be able to sustain things so we’ve got to stay tight,” Rhinehart said. “Going forward, it’s going to be very important.”
There are multiple revenue sources for the city, which include the top three — sales tax, property tax and insurance premiums tax.
Rhinehart said she hopes the trend of those taxes exceeding projections continues as in recent years. Those increased collections have allowed the city to close the gap between revenues and expenditures so far.
“That is the hope,” Rhinehart said. “We’ve had growth in these areas, which has helped.”
Rhinehart and the finance committee will meet Thursday to iron out final numbers for the proposed draft they’ll recommend to the City Commission, which holds its next meeting on Dec. 9.
The committee meeting is open to the public and begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Sam King Room in City Hall, 601 Broad St.