Monticello Council Adopts Budget

Three members of the Monticello City Council met Tuesday for a perfunctory adoption of the city’s 2004-05 budget, but also voted on a non-agenda action to give city employees a raise and restore their own pay to previous levels, provided funds are available next November.

Councilman Glenn Newsome had e-mailed council members Monday that he would propose the pay adjustments for employees and elected officials, to be effective Jan. 1 depending on fund availability. The employees would receive a 1.5 percent increase in January in addition to the cost-of-living increase of about 1.4 percent they receive in July under the new budget.
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The council voted earlier this year to halve their salaries and that of the mayor because of a continuing budget crunch. Before that the monthly stipends that could be restored were $500 for the mayor, $400 for the mayor pro-tem and $300 for council members. Presumably council members would have to vote again to enact the proposed changes after they see the revenue figures in November.

The budget resolution adopted unanimously by council members Otis Clark, Scott Sauls and Mr. Newsome notes that the city manager “has recommended personnel changes and improvements, the funding for which is included in the budget as presented.”

It also stipulates, “that the expenditures shall not exceed the appropriations authorized by this budget or any subsequent amendments thereto and that expenditures for the fiscal year shall not exceed funding available.”