Those living outside of North Augusta city limits and are not on the city’s utility system can expect to pay a little more for fire protection under the proposed 2013 city budget.
There is a proposed $12 per year increase for those homes, increasing the current fire protection fee from $60 to $72 per year. Given the current number of customers in that category, it would affect about 162 customers, according to the budget.
The budget also includes a 40 cent increase per month in the custom street light fee for people residing in subdivisions where decorative street lights are provided, increasing the fee from $1.65 to $2.05 per month.
The 2013 budget does not call for an increase in taxes.
Other budget highlights:
SALES TAX 3 FUND
• The city will begin collecting capital projects sales tax 3 funds in 2013, which will total $23,575,000. Sales tax 3 was approved in a 2010 referendum.
Sales tax 3 will fund the following projects: Martintown Road at U.S. 1 interchange, design and improvements; Five Notch Road widening; Martintown Road at Knobcone Avenue intersection widening and signal; Greeneway expansion, extension, connectors and crossing improvements; new park development; new gym at Riverview Park Activities Center; road, parking and landscaping for riverfront/town center/downtown areas; new fire pumper; completion of fire station 3; a headquarters fire station to replace station 1; public safety headquarters for administration to replace the current headquarters; street resurfacing program; road reconstruction program; and curbing and sidewalk development.
City council will prioritize these projects:
CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND
• New Web site development: $30,000
• Riverview Park adaptive playground: $45,000
STREET IMPROVEMENT FUND
• Five Notch Road pedestrian crosswalk signal: $20,000
• Restoration of crosswalks on Georgia Avenue: $80,000
• Phase I of the U.S. 1/RiverNorth landscape project: $81,000
North Augustans will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the 2013 budget during a public hearing on Oct. 15. The second reading of the proposed budget will be on Nov. 5; and the third and final reading on Nov. 19.
