By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Clanton City Council unanimously approved the 2019 fiscal year budget on Sept. 24.

The budget includes $14,560,600 in projected revenue and $13,209,810 in planned expenses.

This leaves $1.3 million in projected revenue in reserve.

Fiscal year 2019 begins Oct. 1.

Tax revenue from ad valorem taxes is projected to increase slightly from the previous year’s projections to $675,000. City sales tax revenue is projected to be $7.365 million. Auto sales tax revenue is projected to increase slightly to $1.175 million.

The majority of other tax revenue sources are projected to be relatively the same.

Proceeds from sale of assets year-to-date this fiscal year is $43,628, but is only projected to be $5,000 in the next fiscal year. The city had sold surplus cars in the 2018 fiscal year that brought in the additional revenue, according to City Clerk Debra Orange.

On the expenses side, money budgeted for equipment purchases has been increased to $15,000 to purchase new computers. There is also a slight increase in funding for salaries that are paid out of the general fund, bringing the total to $235,000. The majority of salaries are paid from the specific department budgets. The majority of these budgets saw increases for salaries as well. An increase for health insurance costs is also budgeted for most departments.

The police department budget is $2,426,550. The budget includes $120,000 to purchase four cars and equipment. The budgeted amount for vehicle repairs will be decreased compared to the previous budget.

Clothing allowance for the department will be increased by $1,000 over the 2018 total amended budget, bringing the total to $23,500.

The fire department budget will be $621,750,000. Insurance and bond expenses are budgeted to increase by $8,000 based on the 2018 total amended budget.

Fire Department capital expenditures year-to-date in the 2018 fiscal year was $105,240, but is budgeted as $50,000 for this year. Orange said the amount had increased in the 2018 fiscal year to purchase a truck and heart monitors.

The budgeted amount for the fire chief will increase by about $2,000 over the amended amount for the 2018 fiscal year.

In the street department, expenses for equipment purchases are expected to increase. Costs for repair and maintenance are expected to decrease from last year’s budgeted amount. The department has budgeted $150,000 to purchase a flatbed truck this fiscal year.

The entire street budget is $1,599,900.

In the sanitation department budget, there was a significant increase in the amount budgeted for capital expenditures. The $350,000 budgeted for this line item will be used to purchase a garbage truck and a limb truck.

The City Council also approved bids for fuel, rock, hauling rock, tires and dumpsters during the meeting.