Milton secures funding for City Hall, project to open 2017.

Courtesy City of Milton

Milton's City Council in late May approved the issuance of a $10 million revenue bond in order to fund City Hall in historic downtown Crabapple.

The bond means Milton taxpayers will not have to levy additional taxes or fees to build the municipal complex, set to open in April 2017, said Mayor Joe Lockwood. Plus, city funds will no longer be used to lease property taxpayers do not own - an important step to ensuring the most value for resident dollars.

"We're excited to not only be giving the residents of the City of Milton a beautiful, welcoming and functional City Hall complex - we're doing it without adding to their tax bills," said Lockwood. "With smart budgeting and judicious use of our yearly fund balance, we'll be able to bring these projects to fruition without the additional burden of more revenue from property taxes."

The City Hall complex, which will be located between Crabapple Road and the existing Braeburn development (click here to see a site rendering), is slated to include offices, council chambers, meeting areas for residents and a town green for expansion of special events in Crabapple.

Milton paid $900,000 for a little over two acres to be used in the project from the city's land acquisition budget after a unanimous City Council vote in February. Staff continues to negotiate on a small portion of land - about a third of an acre - expected to enhance the final project.

As plans for the project - crafted in house by City Architect Robert Buscemi to maximize savings to taxpayers -- become available, residents will be able to view them and chart the project's progress via the city's Web site and several anticipated public meetings.

The bond will also pay for the 2014-2015 expansion of Bell Memorial Park (for more information, click here) and the construction of a Court, Fire and Police Services complex on Ga. 9 expected to open in 2019.

For more information on the City Hall project, contact the City of Milton Community Development Department at 678-242-2500 or info@cityofmiltonga.us.