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A grant for the Ritz theater, if accepted, would allow an upgrade of the lobby and other areas of the theater.
The City of Toccoa will seek a grant to help pay for work on the historic Ritz Theatre.
During their Feb. 14 meeting, city commissioners considered the application for a USDA Rural Business Development Grant for the Ritz addition.
“One of our goals is in addition to the Ritz Theatre is to create a new entrance lobby area with handicap accessible restrooms, a new balcony access with other upgrades,” city manager Billy Morse said.
“To assist funding the project we would like to apply to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) for a rural development grant. If you like this approach we have a resolution for you that authorizes us to submit that application to also use our SPLOST funds as a required matching fund,” Morse said.
City commissioners approved the application unanimously.
The theatre project is expected to cost some $300,000. A portion of that amount will be paid for by City of Toccoa special purpose revenue tax revenue.
In other action at the Feb. 14 meeting, commissioners made plans for the 2023 fiscal year budget calendar.
“Yes it is time to begin the budgeting process for the next fiscal year,” Morse said. “This calendar identifies the key dates in the process the department heads will submit their budget request in March.
“The city commission meets with each department head in April. Public hearings will be held on May 23 and June 13. If all goes well the new fiscal year will begin on July 1,” Morse said.
In Monday’s meeting city manager Morse shared with commissioners information about the city’s fiscal operating funds.
“In the general fund we have a balance of $386,033,” Morse said. “In the grant fund, we have a balance of $34,807 and the hotel motel fund has a balance of $39,125.
“The water wastewater fund has a $115,159 balance. The natural gas fund shows a loss of $241,592, but as you have seen, that is a quickly reversing trend. Hopefully next month we will see a positive number there as our revenues catch up with our expenses,” Morse said.
“The solid waste fund shows a loss of $6,096. That has to do with some repairs to one of our trucks and some equipment that we need for cardboard dumpsters for some of the new business. So we had to go purchase some new cardboard dumpsters,” he said.
The total cash on hand balance in operating is $1,214,075, Morse said.