A stormy financial future is not forecast in Fort Oglethorpe’s 2005 budget, but more money is allocated in its rainy day fund, according to City Manager Jim Dinley.

The proposed $8.9 million budget reflects a decrease of more than 10 percent compared to the city’s $10 million budget for 2004.

Dinley said the major difference is not necessarily less spending but rather a greater amount of grant and project funds available in this year’s budget.

Dinley, who was hired in May, said one of the major changes he made this year is designating more emergency funds.

“It’s a realistic budget,” he said. “I think we’re doing fine, but I just wanted to put a little more in contingency. It’s for unforeseen problems, equipment or if something breaks.”

The proposed 2005 budget includes $105,932 in contingency funds earmarked for the water and sewer department, compared to just $6,674 for the department in 2004. In the general fund, $148,976 is outlined as contingency money, compared to $34,437 this year.

The Fort Oglethorpe City Council is scheduled to adopt the 2005 budget on Dec. 20.

“It looks pretty well balanced,” Councilman Richard Egeland said.

Dinley said the total general fund operating revenues will increase by one percent next year, while expenditures will increase by 3 percent, in part because of rising fuel costs and a 9 percent increase in the city’s health, commercial and workman’s compensation insurance.

“We have 70 vehicles, and gas is 50 cents higher than it was last year,” the city manager said. “That’s an unexpected expense we have to meet.”

The proposed water and sewer budget reflects a 1 percent increase in revenue, and expenditures are up less than one percent in that department, Dinley said.

The 2005 budget includes added revenues from a more than $2 hike to the water and sewer rate, approved by the City Council on Dec. 13, and a 2 percent franchise fee for electricity passed earlier this year.

In individual department numbers for 2005, Fort Oglethorpe Fire & Rescue funding decreased from $529,457 in 2004 to $491,955. Police department funding increased from $1,697,650 to $1,791,719.

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Dinley said decreased funding for some departments was due to fewer planned projects and purchases for next year.

“Nobody got significantly reduced,” Dinley said. “Nobody got all they wanted, but nobody walked (out of my office) mumbling under their breath.”

Dinley said he is trying to encourage department heads to be a little more conservative in working within next year’s budget and not spend funds simply because they are available.

“I’m just glad to have a balanced budget after what we’ve been through the last couple of years,” Mayor Judd Burkhart said.

In other business Monday, Dec. 13, at Fort Oglethorpe City Hall:

* The council unanimously approved new city water and sewer rates. Effective January, residential rates will be $8 for water and $8.40 for sewer for the first 2,000 gallons. Commercial water rates will be $11, and commercial sewer rates will be $11.45 for the first 2,000 gallons.

* The council heard the the first reading of a request by the Catoosa County Board of Education to rezone 23 acres on Battlefield Parkway between Bi-Lo and Lowe’s from R1 (residential) to C2 (commercial). The school board approved the sale of that property to Home Depot on Nov. 22.

* The council voted unanimously to deny rezoning a lot in Battlewood Subdivision from R1 (single family dwellings) to R5 (multi-family dwellings). The lot owner, Wayne A. Weaver, said he planned to construct townhomes.

* The council unanimously approved the $2,273 purchase of a defibrillator for Fort Oglethorpe Fire & Rescue