The Brookhaven Board of Aldermen isexpected to vote Tuesday on a city budget for the 2011-12 fiscalyear that will include rate increases for some city services andraises for all city employees.

    The final budget numbers the board will see on Tuesday wereunavailable. But based on sample budgets the board has used in worksessions, expenditures somewhere between $10 and $11 million arelikely, with estimated revenues possibly falling from $700,000 to$900,000 below that.

    A budget indicating a deficit is acceptable provided the surplusfrom the 2010-11 budget will make up the difference, said CityClerk Mike Jinks. As of July, the city is operating with a $1.3million surplus, Jinks said.

    If the budget passes, city residents will see 50-cent increaseseach on water, sewer and garbage fees. Jinks explained theincreases will apply to the minimum charges.

    The budget would also enact a 3 percent raise for all cityemployees. Aldermen are included in the raise, a point ofcontention during recent work sessions.

    Alderman at Large Karen Sullivan and Ward Four Alderman ShirleyEstes opposed the inclusion of aldermen within the salaries, whileWard Six Alderman David Phillips opposed pay raises for anyemployee.

    The increase would bring alderman salaries to approximately$17,047.16 a year, up from the current salary of $16,713.14. Themayor’s salary would move from $65,000 annually to $66,275.

    The board has until Sept. 15 to pass a budget for the new fiscalyear, which begins Oct. 1. City leaders anticipate the budget willpass Tuesday, but if the board fails to do so, a special sessionwill be held prior to Sept. 15.

    Tuesday’s meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the city boardroom at thegovernment complex will be open to the public, as are all meetingsof the city board.

    If successful, Tuesday’s vote will leave several issues from thework sessions unresolved. Ward Five Alderman D.W. Maxwell and WardTwo Alderman Terry Bates expressed frustration multiple times inwork sessions that appropriations the city makes to the Parks andRecreation Department come with no accountable.

    The recreation department is funded by the city but isindependently operated by its own board.

    Maxwell and Bates both stated that the board should have moreinformation about how the department spends its appropriations.Bates requested the department’s appropriations be lowered thisyear, but received no support for that idea.

    In the same vein, in multiple work sessions, Maxwell and Sullivanindicated concern that Police Chief Pap Henderson’s budget requestfor the police department included $25,000 for supplies andfurniture. Despite discussion, no move was made by the board forfurther information or clarification of the request.

    Maxwell also threatened in work sessions to vote against the budgetif what he characterized as inequalities in distribution of pavingfunds were not addressed by the budget. Maxwell’s initial demandfor $20,000 extra in paving money for his ward was never met, butat the last work session he did not indicate any intent to voteagainst the budget Tuesday.