Concerns About Pay Raises In Algood Budget

Algood City Council approved first reading of its new budget Tuesday despite concerns from several members about the uncertainty of pay raises.

City Administrator Keith Morrison included 50-cent per hour raises across the board for all city employees in the budget he shared last month. During a Monday work session, other scenarios came up for discussion. Council Member Ron Graves said he needed more time to think about the alternatives.

“There’s about half a dozen scenarios and even though I may vote tonight for the first reading, maybe I’m the only one up here, but we need to have some serious time sometime before the next month to discuss this issue,” Graves said. “What are we going to do on the raises, if anything? And like I said, maybe I’m the only one don’t understand it, but we’ve been looking at a lot of emails and calculations and I’m sort of confused myself.”

Vice Mayor Luke Hill said he, too, wanted more time to think about the salary options. Total expenses for the city total some $4.09 million. Revenue projections fell about $267,000 short of that. The property tax rate would remain the same at $0.3623 per $100.

“I feel more comfortable looking at all those scenarios,” Mayor Lisa Chapman Fowler said.

Communities often pass first readings of budgets despite changes being needed, in order to keep the document on schedule for state review. The budget must be to the state comptroller’s office by July 1.

Elsewhere Tuesday night, Council approved an amendment to the city charter, allowing the city to lease real property. The Legislature approved the charter change during the latest session. The change came during discussions of leasing land for soccer project.

Council also approved the purchase of a special washer/dryer for the fire department. Chief David Judd said the machine specifically works to clean turnout gear. Total price came in at $12.516. The fire department will also purchase new turnout gear as part of the same grant awarded earlier this year.