The Winston County Journal

City officials reviewed and approved the city's planned upcoming budget over three recent meetings.

The board reviewed the city budget in the special recessed August 28 meeting with discussions in the Sept. 4 meeting and then a final approval in a special meeting on Sept. 7, which included new board member Gwenita Mays.

The budget, described as "very conservative" by Mayor Daniel "Moe" Yarbrough, included a 3 percent raise for most city personnel.

The budget reflects an estimated $5,733,170 in receipts for the city, with about $455,000 gained through ad valorem taxes and about $1,500,000 gained through sales taxes. The city has budgeted $7,165,245 in general fund and department expenditures. The planned budget leaves a $1,432,075 deficit between revenues and expenditures along with grant funding.

"We are not going to spend all the money we have budgeted," said Mayor Yarbrough. "We have planned for major purchases that should not occur except in an emergency."

Yarbrough added that the city aims to maintain about $1.5 million in the bank.

"It is a very conservative budget," Yarbrough said. "Our sales taxes continue to grow which has not been figured into the budget."

In 2006-2007 budget, the city has collected about $5,017,016 in receipts and spent $5,176,578.59 in general fund and other department expenditures such as solid waste. The city had planned for a deficit budget of about $1 million in 2006-07 and should arrive at a lower deficit of about $300,000 when the new fiscal year begins.

During the meeting, the aldermen approved a city tax levy of 13.3 mils and a levy of 44.85 mils for the school district. The total tax levy in the city will come in at 58.15 mils. The board agreed that the city would collect school taxes for a fee of 4.25 percent, totaling an estimated $64,600.

Alderman Dickie Caperton and Alderwoman Judy McLeod voiced opposition to the collection fee and requested that the board lower the rate.

"The schools are running on a tight budget and I would like to see us cut the collection fee by .25 percent," said Alderwoman McLeod.

After a 2-2 tie, the measure passed by a vote from the Mayor Yarbrough to keep the fee at the 4.25 percent.

Mayor Yarbrough explained that the city supports the schools in so many ways from the new tennis courts to the electricity for the baseballs that the 4.25 percent rate was prudent.

City leaders noted that the county charges a 5 percent fee to the schools for collecting the taxes.

Board members also noted that the city did not increase millage and that over all millage only increased because of the school millage increase.

The board has not approved but did discuss increases in solid waste collection and increases in city fines. City officials discussed a recommendation to increase garbage collection fees by $1 for all residential and businesses with the city carts.

The city also requested Police Chief L.M. Claiborne and City Judge David Wilson review city fines and increase to match surrounding cities. The budget projects about $150,000 in revenue from police fines.

Along with stronger sales tax revenues, the increases in collection fees and fines were the only major increases in revenues expected.

In other action the board members:

August 28 special meeting:

€ Approved resolution to apply for 2006 Katrina Supplemental grant.

€ Authorized applying for a $1,000,000 CAP Loan

€ Approved E-911 training.

€ Approved curfew ordinance to be reinstated after its automatic expiration.

€ Paid $6,000 for Historic Preservation survey to be reimbursed later partly from a grant fund.

Sept 4 regular meeting:

€ Approved the petition for a child care facility at 608 South Columbus Ave.

€ Paid docket of claims in the amount of $150,540.90

€ Paid landfill engineering fees of $18,424 on new cell built.

€ Notice of appointment needed for Winston County Economic Board.

€ Entered two executive sessions on personnel matters.

€ Approved bidding out Academy Park concessions noting that Community Wings who had been caring for the park has not been approved for 501C status yet.

Sept 7 special meeting:

€ Welcomed Gwenita Mays as new alderwoman.

€ Approved payment to election commissioners for special election.

€ Noted the lowering of Blue Cross Blue Shield rates.

€ Noted the good job the street department did in cleaning up brush and debris.

€ Accepted Mays resignation from the zoning and planning board.