The Trenton City Council gave approval to the 2006-2007 budgets for the city of Trenton, Trenton Municipal Utilities and the Trenton Park Department during its meeting on Monday night.
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The Trenton City Council gave approval to the 2006-2007 budgets for the city of Trenton, Trenton Municipal Utilities and the Trenton Park Department during its meeting on Monday night.
The Board of Public Works, which oversees operations of TMU, and the Trenton Park Board had previous approved the TMU and park department budgets, with detailed information on those document having previously been published in the Republican-Times. The city budget was approved last week by the Finance Committee, which recommended approval by the council at Monday night’s meeting.
The city budget shows projected revenues of $1,2148,835 for the fiscal year, which begins May 1, while expenditures are estimated at $2,706,378. Another $235,000 in revenues is anticipated from operating transfers, resulting in a projected deficit of $322,543. That deficit could be less, according to City Administrator Kerry Sampson, who said that the fund balance at the end of the current fiscal year could actually be more than the $1,342,356 that has been estimated as of April 30. In any case, the ending fund balance as of April 30, 2007 is estimated to be over $1 million.
The city budget includes a 4 percent raise for all city employees other than those covered in the TMU and park board budgets. All but two TMU employees received a 4 percent raise, with the other two receiving higher increases, while the park board superintendent received a 5 percent raise. The city’s other park employee received a 25-cent per hour salary increase.
Salaries for administrative personnel and department heads include:
City Administrator Kerry Sampson, $68,787; City Clerk Cindy Simpson, $41,964; Police Chief Bob Lewis, $42,651; Fire Chief Tony Ralston, $38,872; Community Planner Sean Burge, $41,600; Street Supervisor Larry Griffin, $47,747; Airport Supervisor John Beier, $23,254; Code Enforcement Officer Gary Beverlin, $26,780; TMU Director Chad Davis, $53,793.92; TMU Comptroller Kevin Kasinger, $46,800.10; Wastewater Supervisor Bob Huchinson, $41,599.98; Water Production Supervisor Joe Rongey, $41,599.96; Water Distribution Supervisor Kenny Ricketts, $41,599.96; Electric Production Supervisor Steve Sims, $40,593.26; Electric Distribution Supervisor David Henderson, $45,736.16; and Park Superintendent Jason Shuler, $38,062.50.
In discussing the budgets, councilman Dr. Nick McHargue said he thought the council took action a few years ago to cap salaries of some of the more highly-paid employees, noting the council should take that into consideration when developing future budgets. Councilman Gary Hurst said he believed the council had discussed capping salaries by giving just a cost-of-living increase.
Dr. McHargue also questioned the amount of money to be paid by the city to the park department for the department’s assistance in cleaning up some of the city’s housing demolition projects. Dr. McHargue said he believed that some park board members had a different idea of how much money is to be paid by the city, however, City Administrator Kerry Sampson noted that the agreement was the park board would receive a certain percentage of the funds once actual expenses had been deducted from the monies received. Community Planner Sean Burge said the issue did not come up at the park board meeting earlier this month.