AUGUSTA, Ga. - Augusta property owners can breath a sigh of relief. City leaders passed the 2009 city budget Tuesday and decided not to raise property taxes.

But they did cut millions of dollars from city programs, and some county employees could lose their jobs.

About 20 county jobs will be eliminated next year. Some of those will be vacant positions, others could be people actually losing their jobs. Department heads who faced the chopping block say next year will be tough.

"We will not be able to offer any new programs," said Nancy Glaser. She is the director of the Augusta Museum of History.

The museum's budget took a $100,000 cut for 2009. The director will have to let go of three employees. And says she won't be able to maintain her most popular exhibit. She says $75,000 used to maintain the James Brown Exhibit was also cut.

But city leaders have yet to roll out some of the most impactful cuts. They haven't discussed Augusta Public Transit. It could lose $1,400,000.

City bus riders will have to dig deeper in their pockets to pay bus fare.
They decided to fully fund law enforcement for 2009. City leaders will take a look at the Public Transit budget in the coming weeks.

Click here to view the 2009 Augusta budget.