The City of Dawsonville in a special called meeting approved a $4.1 million budget for fiscal year 2015-16.

The budget includes a $1.15 million increase over last years due to the addition of special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST VI) funds approved in a city-county negotiation in July 2014.

The city has approved spending $1.15 million as follows:

Parks and recreation $191,700

Roads and sidewalks: $191,700

Sewer projects: $95,800

Water projects: $95,800

Public works equipment: $191,700

City Hall acquisition: $191,700

Farmers market: 191,700

(Numbers rounded to the nearest hundred)

Council member Jason Power made a motion to pass the budget. Angie Smith seconded. The budget passes unanimously. No residents spoke for or against budgeted items.

City Mayor James Grogan explained the fund balance increase.

Because the city has a zero-sum ending fund balance, we have to make sure our expenditures equal the amount of money brought in, he said. Because the SPLOST funds were added to this years budget, we had to raise the budget figures to equal out.

In November 2014, voters overwhelmingly passed SPLOST with 70.3 percent approving. The city and county agreed to split the county-wide tax revenue with 85 percent going to the county and 15 percent for city projects.

The 1-cent sales tax extension is expected to generate about $45 million over the next six years.

An item not on the citys work session agenda but discussed and approved by the council was assessing a $2,000 infrastructure fee per lot on undeveloped lots in Phase I of the Creekstone subdivision.

My recommendation is that you accept (the fees to cover) the cost to rebuild anything damaged during the construction process, City Attorney Dana Miles said. Those funds are to be accounted for separately and only used for infrastructure repair or improvements.

Council members also agreed to right-of-way road easements, water and sewer easements in the subdivision, and the deeding of a pump station on the property.

The council also approved:

The purchase of a $11,355 camera and locator system to help with pipe maintenance in subdivisions. The lowest bidder was HD Waterworks.

Spending final SPLOST IV sidewalk funds of $10,782 and $5,054 from city general funds to the lowest bidder Towny Concrete, Inc. for sidewalks to connect an assisted living facility to Food Lion.

Guidelines and forms for businesses to apply for a Dawsonville revitalization revolving loan of up to $20,000, interest free, which must be repaid within two years.