Going line by line through the proposed budget, Mayor Charlene Herring and council members Donald Prioleau, Belva Bush and Jim Chandler talked with town clerk Vivian Case about the budget items.
Looking at the general fund, the council agreed to add a 3 percent cost of living raise to the salaries of the town’s employees.
“Even though sometimes in a small town when things are tight, there are things you can’t do, but it’s only one Vivian, one Robert, and in the end you have to do the same reports that large places have that have several people,” Herring said.
The town has three full-time employees, one part-time employee, a night security officer and one contractual employee.
The council also agreed to increase the amount of money it budgeted last year for utilities to $20,000 for the upcoming fiscal year.
The police department’s budget will see an increase next year as well. Case explained to council that adding the night security officer’s salary to the police department budget will increase it to almost $74,000. The budget includes salaries for both Police Chief James Ashford and Judge Gen Palmer.
Other expenditure items discussed were miscellaneous and professional.
Items such as newspaper notices, the annual Christmas parade and Arts on the Ridge are listed as miscellaneous. Prioleau suggested the town increase this amount to $4,000 because the town is planning a celebration on June 5 in honor of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson. Johnson, a native of Ridgeway, was one of three black women to play baseball in the Negro Leagues.
According to Case, since the town has not hired an auditor yet, she listed that fee as a professional item on the budget.
On the revenue side of the budget, the council concluded that the town will receive less money in some areas, including its water and sewer fees, than it did for FY 2009-10.
A copy of the proposed budget was not provided to The Herald Independent.
The council will hold the first reading of the budget during its May 12 meeting.
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