Thorsby Town Council considers budget

Published 10:18 pm Monday, September 16, 2013

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Thorsby’s Town Council on Monday was presented a budget for the upcoming fiscal year that includes painting of the town’s water tank and across-the-board pay raises for town employees.

The council will consider the budget and could approve it at its next meeting, on Oct. 7.

Painting the water tank would be the town’s costliest project in the coming fiscal year. The town has received an estimate of about $184,000 for the work.

The budget presented on Monday also includes about $12,000 to have a leaky roof at Helen Jenkins Chapel replaced, money for new vehicles for the fire and police departments, and funds for the raises, which would not necessarily be immediately enacted if and when the budget is passed.

The council was addressed by representatives of the Chilton County Humane Society, who asked the council to increase the amount it gives the shelter each year from $3,000 to $3,500.

The council voted to donate the increased funds after accountant Gary Moon said there was enough flexibility in the budget to commit to the increase.

In other business, the council:

•Passed a resolution to establish a driving school for traffic offenders.

•Renewed for another year a contract with RDS, the company that collects the town’s sales tax.

•Agreed to keep four firefighters on staff who were originally hired through a SAFER grant. The multi-year grant recently expired, but council members said they wanted to keep the firefighters.

•Considered a bid to replace the Helen Jenkins Chapel roof but decided to wait on a vote until Mayor Jean Nelson could go over the situation with the town’s insurance provider.