The Town of Winnsboro’s budget work sessions have ended, and soon the Council will hold it’s first and second ordinance readings to pass the 2012-2013 budget. The first reading will take place June 5 and the second, with a public hearing, will be June 19, both at 6:15 p.m.

The draft of the Town’s FY 2012-2013 General Fund Budget shows an increase of $77,853, from $3,921,815 last year to $3,999,668 for the upcoming year. Combined with the Total Utility Revenue amount of $15,931,272, the Town’s proposed budget will be $19,930,940, according to Town Finance Director Kathy Belton.

By far, expenditures for the Public Safety Department are the highest in the proposed budget, at $1,450,551; but that figure represents a decrease of just over $3,000 from last year, which was a drop of $5,000 from the year before. Salaries make up the lion’s share of the budget, at $756,339 compared to last year’s $737,498 and the previous year’s $714,428. It is unclear whether the Town employs as many officers as last year or if the salary budget increase is for cost of living raises.

The budget for the Town Council increased to $199,902 from $172,336 from last year’s budget. The increase is due to an rise in group health insurance costs and retiree hospital insurance. The Town Manager budget dropped $11,000 to $211,553.

Capital Expenditure Requests from the General Fund for 2012-2013 include interior painting of Town Hall for $5,000, a restroom update, a mower and a chipper truck for the Streets and Sanitation Department for $43,200 and $9,000 for welcome signs for the Grants and Community Development Department, for a total of $57,200.

The Utilities Capital Expenditures Requests for 2012-2013 include line reconduct work along Highway 321 Bypass and three trucks in the Electric Department for a total of $506,000. The Town plans to purchase three used meter reader trucks for $38,000. The Water Plant has requested $106,00 to rebuild a distribution pump and re-roof the water treatment plant, and the Waste Water Plant needs $103,000 for various equipment updates. The Gas, Water and Sewer Department needs a total of $101,800, including $50,000 for exterior painting of a water tank. The total amount requested by the various utility entities is $854,800.