Monday, December 11, 2023–7:47 p.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

The Rome City Commission has placed the proposed 2024 budgets onto First Reading Monday night.

No one spoke in favor or in opposition during Monday’s public hearing.

The city is planning for a $1.3 million increase in insurance costs in 2024 with the city contribution going from $10,500 per employee to $12,600 per employee. Employees will also see a premium increase for the first time in around three years.

There are also new positions included in the budget for the water and sewer department.

The budget also takes into account the city assuming operations of The Forum, the result of an agreement regarding the distribution of local sales taxes.

“It’s a balanced general fund balance that does incorporate the use of $2.2 million in fund balance,” said Rome City Manager Sammy Rich. “We’ve got about a seven percent increase in operational expected. Our finance director, Toni Rhinehart, and her staff have worked tirelessly, along with city department heads, to get us where we are tonight in our budget process.”

You can view the budgets here.