City council approves budgets for FY 2018

The Clarendon City Council approved budgets and the municipal tax rates for fiscal year 2018 during its regular meeting last Thursday, September 14.

Aldermen voted in favor of an ordinance adopting the city’s annual budget and agreed to set the ad valorem tax rate at $0.733821 per $100 valuation.

Publicity and Tourism Agreements with the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation and the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce were approved as presented. The Chamber administers 25 percent of the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT), and the CEDC will administer 75 percent of the HOT fund less the annual amount needed to fund bond payments that are financing the Mulkey project.

Budgets for economic development sales taxes and HOT funds administered by the CEDC were approved as presented, and the Chamber’s HOT budget was also approved.

The council accepted the resignation of CEDC board member Leslie Norrell, and appointed Alderman John Lockhart to fill the year remaining on her term.

Aldermen approved engaging Foster & Lambert LLC to perform the fiscal 2017 audits.

The city’s Funds Investment Policy was approved, and the city administrator and city secretary were named as the city’s investment officers.

A contract with Pitney Bowes for postage metering was also approved.