Council looks at $9.9 million budget for 2012
Mayor Dwight Tankersley and City Clerk/Controller Rita Lee presented a preliminary budget totaling $9.9 million to the Hartselle City Council Monday night during its regularly scheduled work session.
Tankersley said he’s expecting revenues to be almost flat from 2010-2011 to 2011-2012. Because of that, Tankersley’s budget looks very similar to what was presented last year.
“That’s why we have budgeted the exact same number for sales tax revenue that we did last year,” he said Monday. “We’re probably going to end the year just about where we budgeted it or maybe just slightly under budget.”
As of July, sales tax revenue is about $13,787 under its year-to-date budget numbers, but the city has already taken in more revenue than the whole previous year. However, the city is anticipating fuel costs to increase by $69,000.
Also due to the lack of increased revenues, Tankersley said he has not included a cost-of-living raise for employees, but he added that several city employees will be eligible for merit raises on the date of their anniversaries.
“Some employees will qualify a step raise increase on the anniversary of their employment based on their evaluation,” Tankersley said. “The evaluations are scored and the employees will receive the raise if they score high enough on the evaluation. This only applies to employees haven’t already topped out on their pay scale.”
Tankersley also presented the council with options for a one-time pay increase, which will be given to city employees sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The cost to the city would be $55,280.32 for a 1 percent increase, $110,560.44 for a 2 percent increase or $165,841.03.
The council also received a proposed capital budget, all except for the items paid for by grants were not yet included in the budget. Some of the big items in the capital budget include a $2.2 million pool replacement, $720,000 for three garbage trucks and $33,550 to replace a 38-year-old air conditioning unit in the city’s library.
