City Council Hears Good Audit News

The got some exciting news about the growing state of the city's coffers during their regular meeting Thursday evening.

Tammy Galvis, a Certified Public Accountant with the firm of Moore and Cubbedge presented the findings of their audit of the city's finances, including the general fund and power fund.

According to the city's accounts, which were vetted by the independent auditors, the general fund grew by $264,000 during the previous fiscal year. Originally, city budgets had anticipated drawing money out of the previous year's general fund balance to cover expenses, but this revenue over expenditure eliminated that risk.

In addition, the city's power fund saw its revenues increase 11 percent over the previous fiscal year, while expenditures increased only 5 percent.

City Manager Brian Bulthuis was quick to credit City Treasurer Sharron Burtz and her team, which includes accounting and payroll clerk Melinda Brock, accounting and payroll clerk Connie Smith and accountant Beverly Burns, for being “budget-conscious” and striving to ensure the city's finances remained in order.

“The department heads really worked with us,” Burtz said. “They would come to us and ask why something in the budget cost a certain amount and we would research it and get them an answer.”

Before the audit, Captain Tony Bailey presented plaques to members of the Public Safety Club and the school's Phi Beta Lambda chapter for their support of the department's recent . The groups publicly presented Mayor Tommy Allegood with a check for $1,835.

The police department's newest officer, a two and a half year old Belgian Malinois named Uno was introduced after the check was presented. He will be the new partner of Officer Jason Larocque,

Nancy Maxwell, speaking during the public comment session, congratulated City Hall for its and felt the event set the proper tone. Allegood agreed, and said the he had many people come up to him and tell him Acworth's commemoration ceremony was the best they had ever been to.

The council unanimously passed the consent agenda. Highlights of the agenda include:

• Dec. 4 will be the first Sunday that alcohol may be purchased in Acworth. 72 percent of voters in the Nov. 8 election said yes to lifting the age-old Sunday ban on alcohol purchases.
• The PT Solutions Triathlon which is being held at will now be held on June 24, 2012.
• The McCall Primary Watchdog Program will be using on Dec. 2-3 for a campout.
• Blount Construction Co. Inc. has been awarded a roughly $2 million contract to complete the School Street Project. A $2.1 million purchase order has been requested to cover unexpected costs that may arise during the construction. The project is to begin at the first of next year.

The entire agenda can be found here. A video of the entire meeting, including the budget presentation, can be found here.