Hartselle Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Smelser said plans to cut three full-time employees and another part-time positions for the 2014-2015 fiscal year have not changed and additional cost-saving measures might be needed.

The changes, which were initially proposed by Mayor Don Hall, were necessary to make the budget balance for the next year. The positions being cut are the jailer position in the police department, a firefighter and a custodian position.

Smelser said that the funding sources are not there to support the additional personnel.

“Right now, we’re looking at several fund sources drying up,” Smelser said. “While we have projected a slight increase in sales tax, it just isn’t enough to offset what we are losing in TVA funding and other sources.”

Smelser said additional action might be needed to prevent employee layoffs in the future.

“After the budget is passed, I’m going to ask the department heads to take a close look at the spending in their budgets,” Smelser said. “I want them to ask themselves if every expenditure is necessary. When they are about to fill open positions, we need to ask whether those positions are needed. I don’t want us to ever have to do this again.”

Smelser said didn’t go as far to say he would recommend a hiring freeze, but he said one might be needed if the revenues didn’t improve over the next year.

The Hartselle City Council is expected to work on its 2014-2015 budget at its regular work session Monday at 7 p.m. in the city hall auditorium. The council could consider adopting the budget at its meeting Tuesday night at 7 p.m.