City Council Votes To Approve 2023 Budget

Friday, December 9th, 2023

The Dalton City Council voted unanimously on Monday night to adopt the proposed 2023 budget after it was presented for a second reading. The new budget is a landmark for the City, as it projects to collect more revenue from sales taxes than property taxes for the first time. The City Council has been working towards that goal. 

Chief Financial Officer Cindy Jackson presented an overview of the budget at a special hearing in mid-November. In that session, Jackson noted that the City is projecting sales tax collections in the amount of $8.5 million in 2023, an increase of a million dollars over 2022. The City projects property tax revenues in 2023 of $9.3 million, but that projection includes some 2022 property taxes that are expected to arrive late due to property tax bills being delivered later than usual. The expected property taxes for 2023 are approximately $8.1 million. That projection was calculated at the "roll back" millage rate, with no increase in the property tax rate expected. 

Jackson noted during her presentation that public safety accounts for 51% of the total budget expenditures at $20.3 million. The Public Works Department represents 21% of the budget at $8.6 million and the Parks and Recreation Department accounts for 2% of the budget at $3.8 million. The budget is mostly in line with the 2022 budget year, with increases in the budget for fuel and energy costs which are expected to rise. Jackson also noted that various repair and maintenance lines in the budget have been increased to reflect inflationary increases in various supply budget lines. The adopted 2023 budget can be reviewed by clicking here.