Weldon’s draft budget calls for no property tax or water and sewer rate increase part time Administrator Phyllis Lee told the town board during a work session today.

While the proposed financial plan holds the tax rate to 70 cents per $100 of valuation, there will be no raises for employees, Lee told the board.

She said that decision was based on the consumer price index, which has decreased. “We know the employees work hard and deserve one.”

Today board members listened as police Chief Mark Macon and Public Utilities Director Donald Crowder discussed their needs in the approximately $3.9 million budget.

The biggest need for Macon came in the capital outlay budget, a new canine vehicle.

The 2000 Ford Explorer has more than 100,000 miles on it and gets 14 miles per gallon in town. “It’s killing my fuel consumption,” the police chief said.

To outfit a 2010 model will cost around $25,940, which includes a kennel, radio and blue lights and sirens.

Macon’s fleet includes nine vehicles, more than half of them with more than 100,000 miles.

While the town will pursue grant funds for the vehicle, the board also discussed replacing more than one car so the town could be on a four year rotation.

“In my opinion, a vehicle is very important for a police department,” board member Earl Smith said. “We should figure out a way to get it when they need it. Maintenance sometimes cost more than a new vehicle. I think we could come up with some money for a vehicle.”

Lee suggested looking at a four year rotation.

“I’m at the mercy of grace we don’t have a breakdown,” said Macon.

Crowder said his departments had little changes from the current fiscal year.

One problem Crowder noted during the work session was he is having a tough time collecting the $150 a year fee for private fire hydrants.

Private fire hydrants are those like at the country club and Riverside Mill. Collecting them is a matter the town board will explore further.

Another matter from Crowder’s department the town board will explore is billing for refuse collection in annexed areas.

The current collection rate is 52 percent and Crowder asked the board to consider having the county add the refuse collection fee to tax bills. This would mean landlords would have to pay the fee on rental property.

Lee said the town would have to see if the town’s ordinance allowed that.