Williamston Town Council unanimously approved first reading on their 2013-14 budget Monday, without funding for an economic development program and coordinator the mayor had planned for.
According to Mayor Mack Durham, the proposed budget significantly decreases overall general fund expenditures and allows an opportunity to rebuild the reserve fund. It also allows for new equipment including three new vehicles for the Police Dept.; a brush truck for the Fire Department; a backhoe for the Sewer Dept.; E-waste dumpster for the Sanitation Dept. and new Municipal Court software.
It also allows for a community revitalization program and coordinator should council decide to implement the Main St. SC program.
The General Fund budget projects revenues of $2,258,704 to expenses of $2,258,704. The Water Department is budgeted at $852,500 while the Sewer Department has a budget of $879,500.
General Fund revenues
Revenues include: property taxes $820,000. Delinquent property taxes, up $5,000 to $20,000; motor vehicle taxes up $5,000 to $92,000, Hospitality tax, up $10,000 to $160,000, Payments in Lieu of Taxes $7,000; Homestead Exemptions $90,000; Merchants inventory tax, $7,204; Manufacturers exemption, $35,000; Local Gov’t Fund up from $50,000 to $72,000; business license, $55,000; MASC insurance $225,000; Charter Franchise fee, $40,000; Duke Energy franchise fee, up $20,000 to $230,000; Fort Hill franchise fee, down $15,000 to $50,000; MASC telecommunications $20,000; Police fines, down $35,000 to $95,000; resource officer, $35,000; grant revenue, $0; fuel reimbursement, $0; little league fees, down $3,000 to $14,000; park fees, $6500; room rental down $3,000 to $5,000; dumpster metal $1,000; garbage fee, up $25,000 to $175,000; garbage penalty $2,000; interest income $1,000; Debt Set off, $1,000; Police officer grant $0; Other misc. $5,000. Total revenues of $2,258,704.
General fund expenses
Administration
Expenses include Liability insurance up $32,000 to $80,000; workers compensation $80,000; Dues $3,000; audit fees up $11,600 to $20,000; consultant fees $20,000 to $30,000; town attorney $12,000 to $24,000.
Other legal fees, up $10,000 to $15,000; grant consultant $0; bank charges $3,000; contingency Main Street Development, $78,043; professional fees, up $15,000 to $30,000; website development $5,000.
Also Admin Salaries $285,410; admin overtime $200; bonus $1500; Fica/Medicare $21,064; Retirement Expense, $26,945; Health Insurance $64,000; Contracts, $15,000; vehicle R&M $1,600; building and grounds R&M $20,000; admin expenses $30,000; uniforms, $1,800; employee morale (new) $10,000; community support (new) $10,000; electricity/gas, $22,000; phone $19,000; postage $35,000; travel/training $12,000; water $5,500; fuel $4,000; Expense Reimbursement Water ($236,479); Expense Reimbursement Sewer ($236,479). total $481,004.
Street Department
Salaries $195,582; OT $1,500; Bonus $1575; Fica/Medicare $15,197; Retirement $18,644; health insurance down $13,552 to $37,800; repair and maintenance $14,000; vehicles repair and maintenance $21,132;supplies $9,179; uniforms $3,460; electricity/gas up $12,364 to $64,364; phone $2,436; water $500; fuel $31,701; capital outlay $5,800. Total street department expense $421,870.
Police Department
Salaries down $140,368 to $480,808; overtime $1,000; bonus $1,000; Fica/medicare $36,782; retirement down $19,286 to $54,634; health insurance down $33,000 to $100,339; unemployment $9,000; repairs and maintenance $5,000; vehicle R&M $10,000; facilities R&M $2,000; supplies $10,000; uniforms $3,000; electricity/gas $10,000; phone $8,000; postage $500; water $3,500; fuel up $15,000 to $50,000; Lawtrax $5,000. Total police expenses $826,063.
Municipal Court
Judge/clerk of court expense $45,706; bonus $200; Fica/medicare $3497; retirement $4,290; health insurance $7625; court expenses $3,000, Software $3,500. Total $67,818.
Parks and Recreation
Salaries up $12,800 to $67,615; bonus $1,025; Fica/Medicare $5,173; retirement $6,346; health insurance $5,254; repairs and maintenance up $18,500 to $24,000; supplies up $3,000 to $11,000; uniforms $1,020; electricity/gas up $7,141 to $24,000; phone $1,200; water $9,800; fuel $7,600; Christmas Park $0; little league up $3,000 to $20,000; cemetery care $2,500. Total parks and recreation expenses up $46,000 to $187,199.
Hospitality Fund
Revenues of $160,000. Expenses: Contingency, Goodwill $118,910; Christmas Parade $1,200; Cemetery candle light $500; Boo in the Park $1,000; Spring Water Festival $10,000; 4th of July $5,100; GWBA Easter Hunt $500; Misc $4790; Pig in the Park $5,000; Homestead festival $3,000; Community Center $10,000. Total $160,000.
Fire Department
Mileage reimbursement $29,680; unemployment $1,000; repairs and maintenance $5,000; vehicles $8,000; supplies $7,500; uniforms $2,000; electricity/gas $5,000; phone $1,320; water $650; propane $1,000; emergency reporting $1,200; fuel $3,500; physicals $6,000; AC training facility $650; rescue equipment $2,000; capital outlay (brush truck) $30,000; rescue equip $2,000; Fire Academy training $750; grant expenditures $4,500; morale/welfare $5,000. Total fire department expenses up $29,948 to $114,750.
Water and sewer department budget figures will be addressed in an upcoming story.
