News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville City Council will vote on a $29.6 million budget Thursday night.
Cookeville Finance Director Brenda Imel said the overall budget shows a deficit, but that number includes capital expenditures. The total budget shows a $536,000 deficit. The actual operating budget minus capital expenditures shows a surplus.
The proposed budget includes longevity raises for city employees and up to two percent merit increases. The original budget shared with city council members postponed raises until the full effects of COVID-19 could be assessed. City Manager James Mills came back to the council with the longevity and merit plan on day two of the work session.
Based on sales tax revenue projections for March, Imel increased projections for those revenues in budget and eliminated a one-time transfer to pay for the raises.
“March numbers weren’t nearly as bad as we projected, so fingers crossed, April won’t be as bad,” Mills said. “We’ve had mixed messages on that. Some businesses have done really well.”
Imel said the budget includes a five percent decrease in sales tax revenue. The budget includes some $24.7 in local tax revenue as part of the $29 million in total revenues. Imel said roughly $13 million of that is sales tax revenue.
The biggest expense come with the Police Department at about $9.29 million and the fire department at $5.3 million. The budget also includes several capital projects including financing the new police station and new fire trucks.
