Sunday Alcohol Sales, SPLOST Funds on Suwanee Council Agenda

Dealing with a SPLOST shortfall of about $750,000 will be among the items that Suwanee City Council members will consider at Tuesday's meeting.

Also on the agenda is calling for a public vote this November on allowing Sunday alcohol sales in the city limits, per the new state law.

Suwanee officials already had discussed with council members that they were expecting a downturn in SPLOST revenue from Gwinnett County because of the struggling economy. Now they are proposing to shift about $930,000 from the city's general fund for fiscal year 2011 to maintain capital spending projects.

This would add almost 8 percent to the city's 2011 budget, but City Manager Marty Allen said Suwanee's financial picture remains strong. High on the list of improvements that would be funded: landscape medians on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. Allen said no other spending cuts would be made because of this.

Suwanee council members seem ready to OK a public vote on Sunday alcohol sales by retail stores for off-premises consumption. At a work session earlier this month, no member opposed putting it on the formal agenda.

Dacula, Duluth and Johns Creek have held talks about allowing a public referendum, though none formally has voted to put it on the ballot. Loganville and Lilburn have decided to put it on the ballot.

The council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at City Hall, with a public hearing set for 6:30. For the complete council agenda, click here.