City OKs new budget; no pay raises this year
Published 5:00 am Wednesday, August 21, 2002
Brookhaven aldermen Tuesday gave their tentative approval to abalanced budget that includes no money for new equipment purchasesand no pay raises for employees, but officials said the budget doesinclude funds for a 29.5 increase in health insurance coverage forcity workers.
A budget plan presented last night forecasts city revenue at$7.13 million and planned expenditures of $7.51 million. City ClerkIris Rudman said approximately $393,000 carried over from thecurrent year to next year will address the projected $385,000deficit.
“This will balance the budget with a little left over,” Rudmansaid.
In earlier budget work sessions, officials slashed funds for avariety of equipment purchases and ordered 5 percent budget cuts inmost other spending areas. Rudman said the cuts, combined with someimproved revenue expectations such as sales tax, allowed the budgetto be balanced.
Last night’s budget also did not have funds for employee payraises. Rudman said a 2 percent pay raise, including city-coveredfringe benefits, would cost $69,663 for all full-timeemployees.
“If you want to give a raise, you’ve got to cut somewhere else,”Rudman told board members.
Aldermen were unsuccessful last night in coming up with areas tocut in order to give raises. City officials were going to reviewbudget areas prior to next Tuesday’s public hearing at 5 p.m. inthe city board room.
Although no raises are budgeted, aldermen fell back on the factthat employees’ insurance would be maintained at current levels.Ward 5 Alderman Tom Smith approved of that plan.
“I’d rather have that at the coverage we’ve got than a 5 percentraise…,” Smith said. “I think we need to keep that goodcoverage.”
Rudman said the budget includes funds to cover a 29.5 percentincrease in health insurance coverage and a 25 percent increase inliability coverage. An insurance representative is expected at anupcoming board meeting to present insurance plans and premiums.
“We hope not, but we know it’s coming,” Rudman said about theprobable increases.
During budget discussions, Ward 2 Alderman Terry Bates and Ward3 Aldermen the Rev. Jerry L. Wilson lobbied to include $5,000 for agrant application to seek up to $400,000 in state grant funds torepair or rebuild dilapidated homes. Other officials expressedconcerns about how a previous home repair program was operated.
Other board members said the grant application funds, like moneyfor other desired purchases, could be available later in the budgetyear if revenue collections exceed expectations.
“If the money’s there, we can do things. If it’s not there, wecan’t,” Smith said.
Although revenue in various property tax categories is expectedto be up approximately $300,000, Rudman said budget plans do notcall for a tax levy increase. She attributed the higher expectedrevenue to higher property valuations.
The city’s new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Following nextTuesday’s public hearing, aldermen are expected to approve the newyear budget during the Sept. 3 meeting.