City budget nearly complete

August 20, 2008 11:15 am

— The Laurel City Council has prepared its final draft of next year’s budget.
During the council’s budget committee meeting Tuesday, the group discussed an overall proposed final budget for the 2009 Fiscal Year Budget that will be presented to the public next week.
Councilman Tony Wheat, the chairman of the council’s budget committee, said Tuesday that the city has developed a final draft of the 2009 Budget.
Over the past several weeks during budget discussions, officials have talked about possible pay raises, personnel changes and the city’s organizational structure.
The council has decided that no increase will be provided for those incoming council members and the annual City Council pay will remain at $16,000. However, a $5,000 increase of the mayor’s pay would be included from $57,000 to $62,000.
According to state law, if a pay increase is approved, it would not go into effect until the next city council and mayor take office.
While the council will not get a raise, city officials are proposing a pay increase for all city employees.
Wheat said a two and a half percent salary increase for all city employees had been proposed in the budget. However, now the council has agreed to propose a three and a half percent salary increase for all city employees.
Councilman Manuel Jones said the city has given its employees a 20 percent increase (five percent over a four-year period) over the last four years.
“When some companies have not given any raises, we have given our employees a 20 percent increase,” Jones said.
Also Tuesday, Ralph Gorenflo, project manager with United Water, gave the Budget Committee a detailed breakdown of water and sewer rates for residential and commercial users.
Wheat said Tuesday’s meeting was the conclusion of the budget committee’s series of meetings until the proposed budget is presented to the public at Monday’s public hearing.
“At this point it appears to be basically done,” Wheat said. “There are a few issues in it that I think we should look at a little differently.”
City Clerk Mary Ann Hess told the council that she still has a few figures to include, “but there’s nothing major,” she said.
Members of the Laurel City Council and various members of the city’s administration have been meeting for more than a month to discuss and formulate the city’s budget for the 2009 Fiscal Year.
The City Council’s budget committee began meeting on July 15.
Wheat said city officials are continuing to work on the budget to finalize it, which must be approved by the council’s first meeting in September.
The council has set a public hearing for the FY 2009 Budget and Tax millage rates to be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
During the public hearing next week, city officials will disclose all the proposed changes needed to balance the budget.

Photos

Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack and Councilman Tony Wheat look over a draft of the proposed budget for 2009 fiscal year during Tuesday’s Budget Committee meeting.