VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - More money, new jobs, and overall improvements to the city are projected to come out of Valdosta's proposed budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
634 city employees will be receiving pay raises from the projected budget.
The Valdosta Police Department will not only see new positions added, but a new fleet of vehicles replacing older ones.
Other departments will also have job positions added.
City Manager Mark Barber says, after Wednesday night's public hearing of the proposed $97 million budget, he doesn't expect any changes to be made before its final vote next Thursday.
"It's pretty much a continuation budget, my personal philosophy is even as the economy is going into an upturn, we're going to continue to budget as if it was not, we'll always budget conservatively here in the city of Valdosta," said Barber.
Around $16 million has been set aside for sidewalk and street development projects.
Ulmer Avenue, Lee Street, and Lake Park Road will see improvements.
The city is not expecting to raise property tax, but that will not be finalized for another few weeks.
