Jun 2022: Council Passes $4 Million Budget With More Police and No Tax Increase
At its June 28, 2022 meeting, council unanimously passed a FY2022-23 budget of just over $4 million with three police cars, a new officer, a sewer worker and a 4% raise for staff, and no tax increase. It also moved to allow commercial-industrial planned developments.
The Woodruff Times reported on July 1, 2022 on the Woodruff City Council's June 28 meeting.
On second reading, council unanimously approved the 2022-2023 budget, a little over $4 million. City Manager Lee Bailey said it buys three police cars, adds a police officer position and a sewer department employee, and gives city staff a 4% cost-of-living raise. He described it as a fairly conservative budget with no tax increase, aimed at keeping up with expected growth. Mayor Kenneth Gist thanked staff for the work.
Council also approved on first reading a change to the planned development zoning district so a single application can cover a commercial-plus-industrial project, not only the residential-plus-commercial mix it was created for. Bailey stressed that industrial may not be paired with housing unless a commercial element is included, and that other limits protect residential areas.
On second reading, council revised the conditional use permit ordinance to match state law after a staff review found a discrepancy.
During public comment, a downtown business owner asked the city to consider one- or two-hour parking limits downtown, saying all-day parking was keeping customers away. Bailey said the city would look into it.
The next meeting was set for July 26 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Read the full report at The Woodruff Times (link below).