Assistant Comptroller for the Cobb Government Jim Pherson presented the Board of Commissioners with the final amended Fiscal Year 2010 budget during Tuesday morning's board meeting that brought good news to county employees.

Although no new positions will be created or filled, Pehrson said the proposed budget will not result in any reduction in services, elimination of filled positions, furloughs or pay cuts - and he attributed measures the county took a year ago for this report.

Pehrson said that the county began to prepare for the downturn in the economy last year by following County Manager David Hankerson's suggestions that all vacant positions be eliminated and that each department watch their overtime more closely.

"I would say we've gotten it right, and that we've made sure to create a budget that saves money while still looking after the best interests of our employees and citizens," Pehrson said. "We've had about a $10 million savings by creating more efficiency within the county and following County Manager Hankerson's suggestions."

This year's budget will result in a 5.13 percent decrease in revenue and expenditures from last year's budget. The balanced budget reflects a $17,926,904 decrease from 2009's budget, with $331,907,348 expected in revenue and expenses this year as opposed to 2009's final total of $349,844,252.

Chairman Sam Olens thanked the county's staff for their hard work in creating this year's downsized budget and acknowledged the difficulties that must have come from cutting what he believed to be an already lean budget from last year.

Not everything in the budget will be satisfactory to everyone, though, Olens said. "There are no new positions in the budget for the entire upcoming year, and current employees will have to pay more for pensions and healthcare," Olens said. "This is not proposed with a smile, it's just required. There is some money in this budget that will not be available in FY11, such as the $1 million we received in transit, and while this is a budget that is balanced with no change to millage or jobs, there will undoubtedbly be some difficult decisions to be made in next year's budget. I just want to be candid with the public that, without a rise in the economy, next year's budget may not be as promising as this year's."

Thirty-five items on the consent agenda, including the purchase of 15 MARTA paratransit buses and the authorization of the temporary loan of funds from the Cobb County General Fund for the purpose of funding electric cars for the Cobb County Safety Village, were quickly approved 5-0 with no opposition.

Everything on the regular agenda was approved 5-0, with the exception of two items. One of the items was the community development hearing regarding the application for an alcohol license for the Quick Trip gas station to be built at 1350 South Cobb Drive. The application was initially denied by the Cobb County License Review Board because the station would be within 600 feet of a nearby church, but the review board later recommended approval after considering alternate testimony and evidence. There are currently three other businesses with alcohol permits in the same area as the proposed Quick Trip.

Commissioner Helen Goreham, whose district includes the area where the gas station is to be constructed, was opposed to the request. "I don't think it's appropriate for me to comment on my predecessors, but this application doesn't meet the distance requirements and the church members have said that they have noticed a deterioration in the quality of the area when the other gas station nearby was given permission and was built," Goreham said. "This is a geographical area that needs a positive addition and I think the plan for this QT is, but the question is whether the area needs a fourth business to sell alcohol where there is a school, church and apartments nearby. Therefore, in good conscience, I cannot motion to approve this and motion that the alcohol permit be denied."

The Chairman then opened the floor for a motion to second, but none was given. Commissioner Woody Thompson spoke up in favor to approve the permit, saying, "With all due respect to my colleague, Commissioner Goreham, I think South Cobb Drive is not a pedestrian-friendly area. Kids won't be crossing this road, and there is actually a QT .4 miles down the road where there are more surrounding residents. My motion is to approve."

Commissioner Bob Ott agreed, saying, "I see an opportunity to improve the environment of the area and they are offering a nice landscape plan, so this could have a halo effect on the surrounding stations."

The board then took a vote and the permit application was approved 4-1, Goreham casting the dissenting vote.

The hearing to determine whether to grant or deny the Cobb County Adult Entertainment Business License for Video Heat in Kennesaw was approved 5-0 to continue to the next meeting due to legal conflicts within the Video Heat business.

A public hearing will be conducted on August 25 to discuss the FY 2010 amended budget.