By John William Gallagher
The Clay City Council voted unanimously Thursday to approve a budget for 2013. This is the first time in at least four years the city of Clay has had a budget. The total budget for the 2013 fiscal year is $2.15 million.
“We have a budget now,” said Councilman Ben Thackerson. “Let’s go forward. We know what’s coming in. We know what we can spend. We have to keep that up.”
City Manager Ronnie Dixon used 2010-2011 spending as a guideline for preparing the document. The budget is balanced. Extra money was provided in the budget for an additional deputy to patrol the city and to pay for officers working overtime. A motion was put forward to cancel the current contract on the sponsorship at the concession stands and rebid. There was no extraordinary income or expenses within the budget.
“The budget is a working document,” said Mayor Charles Webster. “There might be some areas that we’re over or under budget, but we can adjust those numbers as we go through the year. It gives us something to shoot for at the end of the year. If we hold to those numbers we will have some reserve money at the end of the year.”
In other news, the city council approved the increase of highway commercial signage
. The signs were only allowed to be 24 square feet. A business may now have a sign no larger than 100 square feet. The original ordinance was passed before many commercial businesses moved into the city.
The council passed a resolution concerning the severance pay of former City Clerk Bob Christmas. He will receive $15,000. Webster, Dixon and City Attorney Alan Summers met with Christmas to discuss his accrued vacation time for which he was owed and reached a deal.
A new personnel manual will be brought for city council approval sometime this summer.
“It’s the next big thing on our agenda,” Webster said.
The city council next meets Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at Clay City Hall.