Raises for some Fort Smith workers are back in the city's proposed 2010 budget after officials finishing combing through the proposal Tuesday night.
"What the board did was add about $500,000 to the budget," said Kara Bushkuhl, the city's finance director. "There weren't too many changes, I imagined that there would be some."
Board members approved four additions to the budget proposal, including raises throughout the year for city workers that make less than $40,000 a year. They also approved adding five new dispatchers for the police department, and new positions at the city clerk's office and district court.
That brings the proposed overall budget for 2010 up to an estimated $274.2 million, an increase of several million over the 2009 budget. Though most of the money to pay for these changes will come from the general fund, there are other places officials can cut back.
"If we're spending $200,000 in overtime, we can take that out trade the overtime for two full-time employees," said Position 6 City Director Kevin Settle.
Officials said this budget was especially difficult because of economic pressures and rising costs, which is why Bushkuhl is grateful for preparation taken by all board members earlier in the year.
"I really think because we had two board retreats in August that they knew what the issues were," she said.
One notable absence at these budget meetings was Mayor Ray Baker. Directors say he's still recovering from a prostate infection at a local hospital, and is not expected to be recovered in time to attend the board of directors meeting December 1, when the proposed budget goes up for a vote. It is the first meeting Baker has ever missed in his time as mayor.
"What the board did was add about $500,000 to the budget," said Kara Bushkuhl, the city's finance director. "There weren't too many changes, I imagined that there would be some."
Board members approved four additions to the budget proposal, including raises throughout the year for city workers that make less than $40,000 a year. They also approved adding five new dispatchers for the police department, and new positions at the city clerk's office and district court.
That brings the proposed overall budget for 2010 up to an estimated $274.2 million, an increase of several million over the 2009 budget. Though most of the money to pay for these changes will come from the general fund, there are other places officials can cut back.
"If we're spending $200,000 in overtime, we can take that out trade the overtime for two full-time employees," said Position 6 City Director Kevin Settle.
Officials said this budget was especially difficult because of economic pressures and rising costs, which is why Bushkuhl is grateful for preparation taken by all board members earlier in the year.
"I really think because we had two board retreats in August that they knew what the issues were," she said.
One notable absence at these budget meetings was Mayor Ray Baker. Directors say he's still recovering from a prostate infection at a local hospital, and is not expected to be recovered in time to attend the board of directors meeting December 1, when the proposed budget goes up for a vote. It is the first meeting Baker has ever missed in his time as mayor.
