More police officers included in Hogansville 2023 budget

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, June 8, 2022

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By Chase Davis

HOGANSVILLE — On Monday, the Hogansville City Council reviewed aspects of the upcoming FY 2023 budget, which will begin July 1.

During the budget discussion, the city council, mayor, and city manager discussed assumed police salary raises for new officers that are included in the proposed budget, moving base pay from $18 per hour to $19 per hour. All current officers would also receive a pay increase.

“This change will help to keep the Hogansville Police Department competitive with surrounding law enforcement agencies,” Hogansville City Manager Jonathan Lynn said.

In addition, the proposed budget will add a total of seven new city worker positions, including the addition of two new police officers and another full-time code enforcement officer.

“With this proposed change, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, there will be a code enforcement officer on duty,” Lynn said.

In other areas, Lynn discussed a $94,000 electric customer service credit that would be implemented in the summer months. The credit would be spread out amongst all electric customers so that everyone would receive a discount.

“We estimate that there will be a credit of about $62 per customer, and typically, that is rolled out in August,” Lynn said.

Lynn also emphasized that there are not any proposed property tax rate increases, nor are there any proposed utility rate increases.

As part of the budget approval process, the city council is required to have a total of three public hearings in order to get feedback from the citizens of Hogansville.

The first hearing took place at the beginning of the city council meeting, with the next two set for June 20 at 10 a.m. and June 20 at 7 p.m.