The Canton City Council on Thursday will consider approving its upcoming budget and millage rate.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. at Canton City Hall.

The proposed 2010 balanced budget is $26.7 million, down from the current budget of $30.4 million. The city's fiscal year begins in October.

The council has proposed raising the millage rate from 5.95 mills to 6.8 mills. For the owner of a $200,000 house with a standard $5,000 homestead exemption, the new rate would mean a $510 city tax bill, an increase from $446 under the current rate.

There will be public hearings on the budget at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday before a vote is taken.

The council will also consider the following agenda items:

* Approval of an architect for the roof design of the Police Department Building;

* Approval of a resolution in support for the Community Building Code Administration Grant Act;

* Approval of a Business License/Occupancy Inspections Package;

* Approval of the second reading to amend the city code related to the zoning conditions change requested by Jerry Thacker;

* Approval of a request by Stephen Leonhardt for .3 acres at 150 Dr. John Pettit St. to be rezoned from central business district to office professional for a studio and art gallery. The Canton Planning Commission recommended denial;

* Approval of a request by the city to rezone the property of SSC Real Estate Holdings LLC and SMV Canton LLC at 150 Hospital Circle from R-1 residential to special use with conditional use approval for a nursing home and convalescent center. The planning commission recommended approval;

* Approval of a Stormwater Maintenance Responsibility and Level of Service Policy;

* Approval of a resolution to allow the city engineer to sign stormwater maintenance and water and sewer system easement agreements;

* Approval of accepting a sewer line from 241 to 251 E. Killian St.;

* Hear an update on a traffic signal at the Northside Hospital Parkway/Highway 20 Intersection;

* Approval of the Marietta Road Streetscapes Project;

* Hear an update on efforts to remove an illegal retaining wall from 750 E. Main St.;

* Resident John Beresford has asked to speak to the council about parks and recreation;

* Approval of the second reading of a request for a beer and wine package license for Publix Super Market at 15 Laurel Canyon Village;

* Approval of the second reading of a request for transfer of outlet manager for Mason's Sports Grill at 147 Reinhardt College Parkway, Suite 6;

* Approval of the second reading of a request for a beer and wine package license for Enterprise Convenience Stores, LLC DBA 245 Food Mart at 245 Riverstone Parkway;

* Hear the first reading of a request for a beer pouring license for Taqueria Coyoacan at 208 Marietta Road;

* Approval of pre-qualification of mitigation construction contractors;

* Approval of a Hickory Log Pump Station intake river rerouting proposal;

* Approval of an appointment to the Canton Tourism board; and

* Hear an update on the effort to hire a city manager.