Needing to expedite some top-priority water projects, the Comer City Council voted Monday to authorize a $100,000 line of credit with a local bank.
This would allow the city to take out money for needed improvements and later pay back that amount with SPLOST funds.
“The mayor can go sign for it at the bank and then we can be on our way,” city clerk and finance officer Steve Sorrells said.
That decision followed discussion of which water and sewerage projects had priority to be funded through local sales tax revenue.
For example, Sorrells later said repairing “a volute in a dry well” was of utmost importance.
“I’d like to call that guy tomorrow and tell him let’s get that fixed,” he said.
Sorrells noted that the city’s water fund is low. That’s partly due to water sales being down this year. In fact, water revenue has dropped 18 percent from what it was last year.
The city will start collecting SPLOST revenue at the end of September. At that point, Comer can start paying off what it has borrowed.
SPLOST money can only be designated for certain projects, and water and sewer improvements fall under that criteria.
