City of Statesboro, Georgia ANNUAL BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2007 Georgia Southern University A Century of Progress, Pride and Promise Statesboro, Georgia • Founded 1906 On December 1, 2006, Georgia Southern University will begin the celebration of its Centennial. On that date a century ago, citizens of Statesboro and Bulloch County prepared a bold bid of land and money for the privilege of founding the First District A & M School — now Georgia Southern — in their community. Pictured here at the University’s traditional boxwood “GSU” letters are Council Member John Morris, Council Member Will Britt, Council Member Gary Lewis, Mayor Bill Hatcher, Mayor Pro Tem Joe Brannen, Council Member Tommy Blitch, City Manager George Wood, and Director of Administration and Finance Judy McCorkle. The Governmental Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) pre- sented a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award to the City of Statesboro, Georgia for its an- nual budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2005. In order to receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan, and as a com- munication device. This award is valid for a period of one year only. We believe our current budget continues to conform to program requirements, and we are submitting it to GFOA to determine its eligibility for another award. __________________________________________________CITY OF STATESBORO__________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Mission Statement 1 Listing of City Officials 2 Listing of Department Heads 3 Introduction 5-12 Reader’s Guide 13-18 City Manager’s Budget Message 19-36 Summary of the Budget – All Funds 37-66 Financial Policies 67-76 Authorized Personnel 77-82 Proposed Pay Plan and Fringe Benefits 83-90 General Fund Revenues Overview 91-93 Revenues 94-97 Property Tax Chart 98 Expenditures Overview 99 Budget Summary 100 Expenditures: Governing Body 101-104 Office of the City Manager 105-108 City Clerk’s Office 109-112 Elections 113-114 Finance Department 115-118 IT Department 119-121 Human Resources 122-125 Engineering Department 126-130 Records Management 131-132 Municipal Court 133-136 Police Department 137-142 Fire Department 143-148 Animal Control 149-151 Public Works Department 152-155 Streets Division 156-159 Parks Division 160-163 _____________________FY ANNUAL BUDGET_______________________________________________ __________________________________________________CITY OF STATESBORO__________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Protective Inspections Division 164-168 Planning Department 169-173 Other Agencies 174-175 Debt Service 176 Transfers Out 177 Confiscated Asset Fund 1779-180 Community Development Block Grant 181-182 Linear Park Fund 183-184 Multiple Grant Fund 185-186 Hotel – Motel Tax Fund 187-188 1997 SPLOST Fund 189-190 2002 SPLOST Fund 191-198 Streetscape Fund 199-200 Capital Improvements Program Fund 201-210 Water and Sewer Fund 211-228 Natural Gas Fund 229-240 Solid Waste Collection Fund 241-252 Solid Waste Disposal Fund 253-262 Benefits Insurance Fund 263-266 Fleet Management Fund 267-276 Debt Service Schedule 277-284 Glossary of Terms 285-293 List of Acronyms 294 _____________________FY ANNUAL BUDGET_______________________________________________ __________________________________________________CITY OF STATESBORO__________ Mission Statement City of Statesboro, Georgia To provide the most responsive and progressive public services so that our residents, businesses, and visitors can enjoy the highest quality of life Statesboro has to offer. __________________FY ANNUAL BUDGET__________________________________1__ __________________________________________________CITY OF STATESBORO__________ CITY OF STATESBORO, GEORGIA MAYOR AND COUNCIL William S. Hatcher, II Mayor In office since January 2000 Current term expires December 2009 Tommy Blitch Gary L. Lewis William P. Britt District 1 District 2 District 3 In office since 2004 In office since January 1998 In office since January 2004 Current term expires December 2009 Current term expires December 2007 Current term expires December 2007 Joe R. Brannen John T. Morris District 4 District 5 In office since September 1998 In office since November 2001 Current term expires December 2009 Current term expires December 2007 __________________FY ANNUAL BUDGET__________________________________2__ __________________________________________________CITY OF STATESBORO__________ CITY MANAGER AND DEPARTMENT HEADS George A. Wood City Manager Sam L. Brannen Judy McCorkle City Attorney City Clerk Director of Administration & Finance Mazhar Elhaj Bobby Colson City Engineer Public Works Director Jim Shaw Stan York Planning Director Police Chief Steve Hotchkiss Vacant Natural Gas Director Fire Chief Wayne Johnson Water/Wastewater Director Key Finance Staff Cindy West, City Accountant Allison P. Chambers, Accountant Patti Akins, Senior Accounting Technician Annette Waters, Accounts Payable Technician __________________FY ANNUAL BUDGET__________________________________3__ __________________________________________________CITY OF STATESBORO__________ __________________FY ANNUAL BUDGET__________________________________4__ __________________________________________________CITY OF STATESBORO__________ Introduction On the evening of December 1, 1906, a train whistle signaled for the citizens of Statesboro and Bulloch County to gather at the S & S Depot. Returning from Savannah and representing the hopes and dreams of the community was a delegation of leaders who were victorious in securing the First District A & M School. Nearly a century and six name changes later, strength, perseverance and pride have transformed a small school on a dirt road to a nationally distinct university – Georgia Southern University. The institution has stayed true to one purpose: to advance the educational and economic aspirations of Georgians – with the southern region of the state a full participant in progress and prosperity. In 1990, the phenomenally successful Georgia Southern College won distinction as the state’s first comprehensive university in southern Georgia. The largest university south of Atlanta, Georgia Southern was elevated in 2006 to Doctoral/Research University status by the Carnegie Foundation, the national classification body for American universities. The City of Statesboro is pleased to pay tribute to Georgia Southern University on its 100th Anniversary. The City of Statesboro is a progressive community that provides an exceptional quality of life to its residents and offers southern charm and hospitality to its visitors. The City offers a high standard of living with a commitment to ensure the most responsive and progressive public services to our residents, businesses, and visitors. Statesboro is where the living remains softly southern and folks call out to one another by first name. Created by an act of the Georgia legislature in 1803, Statesboro is a Georgia Municipal Association City of Excellence and Certified City of Ethics. Statesboro has a growing economy facilitated by a strong industrial base, a growing university, and a regional medical center. This regional economic hub is located 15 miles off Interstate 16 and offers many educational and vocational opportunities that provide a competitive advantage for a strong workforce. Statesboro was incorporated on December 19, 1803, with a population of less than 25 people. The City’s population for 2000 was 22,698 and is now estimated to be approximately 24,604. According to the 2000 census, the City’s population is 56.2% Caucasian, 40.2% __________________FY ANNUAL BUDGET__________________________________5__ __________________________________________________CITY OF STATESBORO__________ African-American, 2.1 % Hispanic, and 1.5% Asian or other. Those 18 years of age and older are 85.7% of the population and those 65 years of age and older are 9.2% of the population. The 2005 median income per household in Statesboro is $33,966 and the per capita income for Bulloch County is $21,678. The unemployment rate has remained very low for at least the last five years. In March 2006, the unemployment rate for Statesboro and Bulloch County was 3.5% and 4.5% for the State of Georgia. The City of Statesboro is the county seat of Bulloch County, Georgia, located in the southeastern corner of the state. Statesboro is located 194 miles east of Atlanta, 76 miles from Augusta, 144 miles from Charleston, SC. and 168 miles from Jacksonville, Fla. It is located 15 miles from Interstate 16, and is on US Highways 301, 80, and 25, and State Routes 73, 46, 67, and 404. Statesboro is included on the southern leg of the Savannah River Parkway, which is a four-lane connector between Savannah and Augusta. The City of Statesboro is approximately 13 square miles with an average elevation of 240 feet above sea level, the terrain being mostly flat. The climate is seasonal, but moderate, with mild winters and warm, humid summers. The average temperature in January is 52 degrees and 82 degrees in July. The average annual rainfall is 47.0” and the relative humidity is 53% in January and 57% in July. Statesboro is located a short distance from Sea Island, Georgia, site of the 2004 G-8 Summit and 55 miles west of Savannah, Georgia, site of the 1996 Centennial Olympics Sailing Venue. Statesboro, with its growing economy, is a regional trade center for commerce, education and health care. The City has a highly diversified economy with several major industries located in the area and is