The Jemison City Council on Monday passed a $2.8 million budget for the 2011 fiscal year.

The amount is about a $75,000 decrease from last year’s budget, but Mayor Eddie Reed, speaking at a regular council meeting, said Jemison remains in sound financial shape even in the midst of a national economic recession.

“It’s a good budget; it’s a balanced budget,” Reed said. “It says a lot about the city of Jemison.”

The budget was passed unanimously, as were all other actions taken by the council, including:

•Amended the city ordinance dealing with deposits paid by water customers. Under the new arrangement, property owners are responsible for paying the deposit if a renter leaves the property without paying.

“This is so we won’t be left holding the bill,” Reed said.

•Announced that repairs to the railroad crossings at Church Street and Patton Street are pending. That’s probably good news to residents, but the inconveniences associated with the repairs might not be as popular: the streets would have to be closed completely, and traffic would be detoured through town. Reed said a date for the repairs is not available.

•Decided to spend $1,716.99 to extend a water line further down County Road 138.

•Declared salvage for bids three pieces of equipment: a John Deere Tractor, a Land Pride “side cutter” and a 1977 GMC truck.

•Waived the $75 water deposit for Anytime Fitness, a business coming to Jemison.

“We want to encourage businesses like that to come into Jemison, so anything we can do to help, we should,” Reed said.

Councilmember George Brasher was absent from the meeting.