Bus driver shortage affecting district ► PAGE 7
A u g u s t 2 2 , 2 0 2 4 | A p p e n M e d i a . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 1 9 , N o . 3 4
BUDGET AND TAXES
City approves property tax rate, talks spending By HAYDEN SUMLIN hayden@appenmedia.com
SCREENSHOT
Frank Patterson, CEO of Fayetteville-based Trilith Studios, speaks to the state Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence on Aug. 14.
Senate committee hears testimony about possibilities, pitfalls of AI tech By JAKE DRUKMAN newsroom@appenmedia.com FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — While computer-generated actors and selfdriving cars aren’t common in Georgia yet, a state Senate committee is at work to evaluate the benefits and risks such technologies may pose. The Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence, headed by Roswell Sen. John Albers, met at Trilith film studios in Fayetteville on Aug. 14. Committee members
discussed the possible applications of AI with stakeholders in Georgia’s film industry and public infrastructure. Trilith Studios CEO Frank Patterson was the first speaker to address the committee. The studio has produced some of the highest-grossing films of all time, such as “Avengers: Endgame” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Patterson discussed ways that artificial intelligence could potentially
See TESTIMONY, Page 16
MILTON, Ga. — The property tax rate remains the same as last year after city officials cited increasing project costs and community investment at the Aug. 12 special-called meeting and work session. Before elected officials voted to keep Milton’s maintenance and operations rate at 4.389 mills, Deputy City Manager Bernadette Harvill discussed the fiscal year 2025 budget. For the acquisition and buildout of the $28 million athletic complex off Deerfield Parkway, the city plans to use funds from the seven-year Capital Improvement Plan. It sacrifices some projects anticipated in fiscal year 2025 and beyond. Milton’s fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2025. Because Milton uses the pay-asyou-go budgeting system, city officials are encouraged to offset spending with tax increases or cuts elsewhere. In the city’s process, a budget workshop is held prior to the millage rate vote, so councilmembers have a better idea of what initiatives and projects require funding. Harvill emphasized the importance of going line-by-line through the budget before the final vote. She said anticipated revenues are down
$121,218 and projected expenditures are $34,263 less than they were after the July 22 City Council meeting. Most of Harvill’s Aug. 12 presentation compares revenue and expenditure variances from fiscal year 2024 to the draft 2025 budget. It includes a 5 percent market adjustment to staff salaries as a placeholder, which will be allocated based on the city’s ongoing compensation and classification study. “This 5 percent market adjustment also impacts salary-related benefits, including employer matches to social security replacement accounts and voluntary retirement plans,” Harvill said. “There’s also a per employee average cost for health insurance benefits included at approximately 3 percent increase from the 2024 budget as benefit costs came in lower than anticipated.” Municipal election costs drop more than 90 percent in fiscal year 2025, with the city setting aside $5,000 for training during its off-cycle year. Harvill said the one-time election costs in fiscal year 2023 will not recur. Also, legal expenditures are anticipated to drop 23 percent after higher than expected fees last fiscal year. Harvill previewed potential capital
See BUDGET, Page 16
Caroline Nalisnick C: 404.513.9226 | Caroline@HOMEgeorgia.com
Sam DiVito C: 404.803.5999 | Sam@HOMEgeorgia.com
Allison Kloster C: 404.784.5287 | Allison@HOMEgeorgia.com