City okay $1.29 million budget

Clarendon Aldermen unanimously approved a $1.29 million municipal budget for the 2005-2006 fiscal year during their regular meeting last Tuesday.

The new budget comes in approximately $30,000 below the current $1.32 million budget but still includes a three percent raise for city employees and more money for certain city functions.

City Hall anticipates collecting $439,200 from water and sewer services, $251,000 from sanitation services, $248,573 in property taxes, and $251,800 in sales taxes. The remainder of the city’s revenue comes from fines, fees, franchise taxes, and other sources.

The municipal budget reflects a savings from combining the positions of the city administrator and the city superintendent, creating one new salary of $45,000 instead of two salaries of approximately $35,000 each. The new position has yet to be filled by the board.

Aldermen also approved a tax rate of $0.4955 per $100 valuation for the coming fiscal year.

In other city business, aldermen accepted a bid from First Care for employees’ health insurance.

A contract with the City of Pampa for a solid waste disposal agreement was accepted. Clarendon’s solid waste is currently taken to the Memphis landfill, but the city maintains a contract with Pampa as a backup.

The board voted to recognize September as being National Preparedness Month and adopted a resolution encouraging local residents to give heed to this campaign.

City Superintendent Jim Roberts reported the street project to be going good, and he sought and received board approval to add Clemmon Weatherton and James Watts as full time employees.