Pay raises, road work in budget

Tuesday, September 5, 2006

Flat pay raises for employees and a minimal amount of money set aside for special projects are included in next year's budget for the city of Greencastle.

Members of the City Council approved the first of two readings of the 2007 budget last week and will vote a final time when they meet for their regular monthly meeting on Sept. 12.

Pay raises for city employees are included in ordinance 2006-10, which was approved by the Council along with next year's budget. All regular, full-time employees of the city will receive an extra $700 in their salaries next year and department heads will get $1,100 in additional funds. Council members indicated that the raises equate to about 3-percent.

In other budget matters, capital expenses for next year were kept to a minimum because the city, according to Mayor Nancy Michael, is facing yet another year of tight finances.

Still officials managed to squeeze in $226,000 in the Cumulative Capital Development fund for repairs and maintenance of city streets.

During the past summer, the city completed several resurfacing projects around town, to include South Jackson Street, West Liberty Street, Indiana Street (at the courthouse), Franklin Street (at the courthouse), Greenwood Avenue, Vine Street parking lot and the city lot next to the BannerGraphic.

Next year's CCD fund also includes $50,000 for the lease payment for the Greencastle Police Department's mobile data system.

Meanwhile, the city's Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) fund was approved to include $50,000 for the Albin Pond Roadway and Dam project, along with $75,000 for improvements to Indianapolis Road and $225,000 for land acquisition for the Albin Pond phase of People Pathways.

Various funds included in the 2007 budget are: general fund, $3,535,885; police department, $1,237,124; fire department, $1,225,268; Motor Vehicle Highway (street department), $900,855; parks and recreation, $498,914; attorney, $48,086; clerk-treasurer, $129,101; city council, $81,225; city engineer, $82,761; mayor, $75,343; planning and building, $109,829; cumulative capital development, $276,000; and local road and street, $120,316.

City Clerk-Treasurer Teresa Glenn said the city will likely have to trim some money off the budget for next year. But she said the state Department of Local Government Finance will advise the city on where to make those cuts, which would likely take place later this year.

The City Council meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at city hall.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: