Monterey Committee Approves Budget With Raises And Additional Police Officer

Monterey’s proposed budget includes employee raises, an additional police officer and extra money for increased water department costs.

Chairman Nathan Walker said the town’s Finance Committee will send the proposed budget to the Board of Aldermen for consideration in May.

“With the increase in sale taxes and property tax increases overall in revenues,” Walker said. “We are in pretty good shape to be able to do this for our city employees and that’s something we are very proud to do and recommend.”

Walker said the proposal would add some $350,000 to payroll meaning substantial pay raises for city employees.

“Our main focus was to make sure they are taken care of and provide that incentive for them to stay with us,” Walker said. “That’s the biggest expense that we looked at.”

Walker said other items include extra pumps and chemical funding for the water department and a heavy duty truck for the street department. Walker said the conservative spending by departments allows for the purchases to happen.

“All of our city department heads they have done a great job this year,” Farley said. “They run a tight ship so to speak.”

Walker said the committee also recommended the purchase of license plate readers at the interstate exits.

“That’s going to help the police department keep our community a little safer and work in conjunction with area law enforcement,” Walker said.