City budget writers got some guidance Monday on new yearspending plans, but questions on employee pay raises, equipment andother needs remain unanswered.

With uncertainty regarding new property values, City Clerk IrisRudman discussed a “best estimate” budget that projects $7.89million in city revenue for the new year that begins Oct. 1.Revenue from property taxes cannot be calculated until values areset by the county.

“We know we’re going to have more money, but we don’t know howmuch,” Rudman said, adding that a tax levy decrease was anticipatedas a result of higher property values.

With the projected revenue figure, officials last night beganlooking at how the money would be allocated. Mayor Bill Godboldidentified priorities as garbage service, streets and employeepay.

Employee pay matters occupied a good portion of last night’sapproximately three-hour session.

Raise percentages discussed included 3 percent, 5 percent and 10percent, with each percentage point costing approximately $36,000.The discussion resulted in no action as officials elected to decidepay raise issues after other spending plans had beendetermined.

Saying that police and firefighters’ pay was addressed in yearspast, Ward 2 Alderman Terry Bates started pay talks by suggestingraising starting pay to $7 an hour.

“Those people are our backbone,” Bates said, referring tostreet, water and sanitation department employees.

Others city officials voiced concerns about employees withseveral years service still not making that amount. Bates said theycould also be raised to $7 a hour.

“We have a mess when we do that,” Rudman said about thebudgeting process and pointing out that there are 36 employeescurrently below that level.

Other pay-related options mentioned were a salary freeze fordepartment heads, a salary cap and a salary step plan to awardemployees with more years of service. Officials rejected thephase-in pay scale in favor of yearly reviews of salaries.

“If you have a phase-in, you have an automatic tax increaseevery year,” said Alderman-at-large Les Bumgarner.

The discussion turned to elected officials’ pay, and experiencewas a factor that Godbold considered. Citing his sixth term,Rudman’s years of service and Bates’ 12 years on the board, themayor suggested first-term officials should not be making the sameas those with more years on the board.

“We need to set a precedent on that, too,” Godbold said, withnewly-elected Ward 4 Alderman Bob Massengill agreeing with theassessment.

Regarding their pay for the next year, Godbold first recommendedaldermen be given an expense account. Rudman, though, said thatwould be illegal.

The mayor then recommended a $100 raise to their individual$12,960 salaries, but aldermen expressed reservations about thatgiven the uncertainty over employee raises.

“I don’t think we should be getting one if we can’t give theemployees raises,” said Ward 6 Alderman John E. “Buddy” Allen.

The mayor turned away talk of a bump in his $51,840 salary.

“I don’t need one,” Godbold said.

Last night’s preliminary budget included no money for a varietyof items facing city fathers. The session was for aldermen to setamounts for those and other areas.

Saying she has not seen any paperwork on federal funds, Rudmansaid there was no money included for the proposed multi-modalfacility. The city has been approved for $1 million and possiblymore, pending Congressional action, on a reimbursement basis.

“We have to expend it in order to get it back,” Rudman said.

There was also no money budgeted for an annexation study andrelated costs, which could climb to several hundred thousanddollars. City Attorney Joe Fernald indicated that the costs couldbe spread over two years.

“It’ll take that long to get it through the system,” Fernaldsaid.

Ward 3 Alderman the Rev. Jerry L. Wilson said he had heard someopposition to the annexation plan from outside the city andindicated there could be a court challenge. City officials areawaiting some annexation-related cost data from consultants and anattorney who specializes in the area.

In law enforcement matters, aldermen gave a preliminary OK tothe purchase of five new police cars. No new cars were bought lastyear, and aldermen said they would like to set up a rotating basisso that several new cars are purchased each year.

“What good is a police officer without his car,” said Ward 1Alderman Dorsey Cameron about the wear and tear put on patrol carsand the need to have them replaced regularly.

Explaining the department’s patrol car situation, Chief Arlustra”Pap” Henderson said the new vehicles are needed.

“We’re just barely kicking along with some of the cars,”Henderson said, while mentioning rising service and repaircosts.

Wilson questioned a $2,000 allocation for prisoner medical fees.Other officials said federal law mandates the city cover thosecosts while a person is in jail.

“That’s a prisoner,” an astonished Wilson said.

City ditch work was another popular topic last night. Aldermenset aside $12,000 for ditch-related activity, with additional plansto seek part-time summer help for clean-up.

Bates and Bumgarner said the city’s ditches had been neglectedand were a cause of concern for residents.

“That’s one of the biggest complaints I get,” Bumgarnersaid.

In recreation matters, $225,000 has been requested to constructfour new tennis courts, and $457,345 was asked for departmentoperating expenses.

Wilson renewed the possibility of building a new communitycenter. A brief discussion touched on past problems in locating acenter site and what action the city should take regarding theAlexander Teen Center.

Elsewhere, Bates suggested the possibility of diverting sometennis court funds for a new swimming pool. He said replacingclosed pools has been discussed for several years, and it’simportant that young people know how to swim.

“After a while, they’re going to be grown and can’t swim, andthat’ll be our fault,” Bates said.

Liability concerns were raised and the possibility of the citysubsidizing some other agency to reduce that liability was analternative mentioned. Officials also discussed contacting othermunicipalities, like Jackson, to see how they handle their poolsituations.

With a number of other decisions to be made, including newvehicle and equipment requests from several departments, officialschose to meet next week with selected department heads. Anotherbudget work session was scheduled for Monday.

Once revenue and expenditure decisions are made, officials areexpected to approve a new year budget at a special meeting on Sept.14.