The public hearing is next Tuesday, June 8, at 7 p.m. at Lloyd Andrews City Meeting Hall. A special meeting to adopt the budget, which calls for no tax increase, will be held June 17 at 5:15 p.m. in the first floor conference room of city hall.
“There was some concern if we had a public hearing it would be a formality,” Mayor Emery Doughtie said at a work session tonight of approving the city’s financial plan following the hearing. “That’s why we wanted to wait to digest and think about the comments that were made.”
The proposed $15,348,333 budget includes a full time city receptionist, an administrative assistant for the planning department, a part time supervisor for the inmate program, a full time equipment mechanic, a full time street maintenance worker, full time sanitation worker, part time library assistant and part time employees for the recreation department.
Other budget highlights include:
• A 3 percent salary increase for all employees except sworn police officers.
• 15 patrol vehicles, one animal control vehicle, five in car cameras and 12 mobile radios proposed to be funded with USDA grants and installment financing.
• Swivel replacement for the ladder truck.
• Address Rosemary Street flooding and paving, improving maintenance and repair of streets, sidewalk maintenance and resurfacing.
• Starting a new fitness center but only after raising $15,000 in pre-sold memberships or sponsorships.
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