Weldon town commissioners today began working on the upcoming fiscal year budget with a directive from Mayor Julia Meacham for each department to cut its budget 3 percent.

“This is the first session and there will be more to follow,” the mayor said.

Phyllis Lee, who serves as consultant for the town, also told board members, “We don’t expect to review the whole thing today.”

Police Chief Mark Macon told board members he expected to be over on the equipment and guns category and said he had $5,197 remaining in the gas budget, with fuel costing about $1,500 a month.

He said he had $774 left in his overtime budget, telling board members he asked officers to use comp time when possible.

Macon asked the board to consider bidding computer maintenance because the town is currently paying $65 an hour in the category.

Code Enforcement Officer Richard Brown is requesting $35,000 for demolitions in the next fiscal year, a $30,000 increase. He said there are 10 houses scheduled for demolition and 12 foundations in Scoco Park which must be cleaned up.

Public Utilities Director Donald Crowder said he expected no change in water and sewer rates this year.

While he has not included it in his upcoming budget, the town must consider replacing a sewer line behind Riverside Mill. There have been spills before, he said, and the town could be fined if the problem continues to be ignored. The cost is $283,075.

Crowder suggested doubling the fee for cutting grass at the cemetery. That fee is currently $75 per lot.

He also suggested increasing the cost of cemetery plots. They are currently $450 for in town and $650 for out of town. “I’ve been told we’re cheaper than a lot of church cemeteries.”