While county departments have tightened their budgetary belts and are delaying all but necessary expenditures, some capital outlays are requested in the commission chairman’s FY2010 budget proposal.

Many of the items will be purchased with special purpose local option sales tax, including the following Department of Transportation projects that will progress as funding is available:

• Bobo, Macland, Mt. Tabor roads intersection improvement;

• Seven Hills Boulevard Phase 1 drainage and right of way;

• Cedarcrest at Graves roads intersection;

• Bill Carruth Parkway Phase 1 (adding two lanes from the bridge north to U.S. 278; medical businesses building there are expected to contribute);

• South Main sidewalk project;

• Old Harris/Winndale roads intersection improvement;

• East Paulding High School turn lane;

• Clonts Road radius improvement;

• East Paulding at Ga. 92 and Ga. 120 turn lanes;

• Old Stilesboro, Ga. 92 turn lane;

• Right-of-way acquisition at Ridge and Mulberry Rock roads;

• Right-of-way acquisition at Bakers Bridge Road at Sweetwater Creek;

• preconstruction engineering, ongoing projects, Dabbs Bridge, etc.

• Safety enhancement, guardrail, miscellaneous intersections;

• Study of Dallas Bypass.

SPLOST funding would also pay $383,404 for 14 Crown Victoria cars, $14,000 for a Kawasaki mule, $10,000 for a speed alert trailer, and patrol car mobile data terminals for the Sheriff’s Office, which is also requesting $9,500 for a K-9 drug dog and track dog. SPLOST would pay $42,000 for Code Red Reverse 911 and $60,000 for a mobile data terminal for the 911 Center, which also requests $43,502 for a Positron 911 telephone.

The Fire Department is requesting the most capital expenditures, including remodeling Station No. 1, reroofing Stations 3, 6, 7, 8, replacing appliances and furniture, fire hoses, pole lights and three AEDs, with SPLOST covering a Ford Escape, engine replacement, completion of Bentwater station and providing a rescue truck there, and SCBA tanks.

The budget lists roof replacement at the Health Department, building renovations at the Marshal’s Office and replacement of the condensing unit and boiler at the Senior Center. Stormwater requests Foxboro stormdrain replacement, Animal Control wants truck bed conversion to haul animals, Parks & Recreation wants three Lazer mowers, a finish mower and progress at Burnt Hickory Park and the Silver Comet Trail using SPLOST, and Information Technology requests server replacement, desktop computer replacement in all departments and data retention expansion. The Community Development and Tax Commissioners offices and Detention Center are asking for copiers, the Detention Center requests a Crown Victoria for transport and the Tax Assessors Office wants tablet computers.

County officials are optimistic a grant will build a biodiesel plant that converts oils and grease to diesel fuel, and that capital outlay is in the Recycling Division budget.