The Mendenhall Mayor and Board of Aldermen held a budget hearing to discuss fiscal year 2021-2022 budget on August 26. They also adopted the 2021-2022 tax levy resolution for which the millage remained the same.
According to the proposed budget totals, the city will operate with $1,686,808 in the general fund this upcoming year. Solid waste will be operating with a budget of $246,265 and municipal fire with a budget of $47,336. An additional $608,655 is slated for the water and sewer fund. Combined, the proposed budget comes to a total of $2,589,064.
A summarized breakdown detailing the general fund and operating budget of each department was provided. Totals for the Police Department were released showing that the department will operate on a budget of $567,298. Police Chief Candy McCullum has been active in seeking grants and other programs to effectively assist the department.
The City has budgeted approximately $200,000 for asphalt paving this next fiscal year, which is approximately $50,000 more than the city spent last year. City leadership anticipates that the amount of paving will be consistent with what has been done in the past with an emphasis on the worst streets. The city has changed its strategy on how paving handled. The new strategy is to bid the project and lock in a price for the fiscal year. This allows paving to be done throughout the year in places where the city digs up streets to repair substructure.
The City Park Department has an operating budget of $83,331 for the upcoming fiscal year. The Mendenhall Armory, Civic Center, and Teen Center will be maintained with a combined budget of $9,390.
The Library commanded $29,025 of the general fund, an increase of the $18,325 budgeted last year. The Mendenhall Volunteer Fire Department will operate with $79,553. The Fire Department continues to grow due to the hard work of several individuals. The department continues to maintain an improved fire rating at a 6. Improving the fire rating has been a long term goal of the city, and leadership is constantly looking for ways to make it even better. The department recently petitioned the board to establish fire codes in a separated ordinance to assist with boosting the fire rating.
The city committed their annual $9,400 toward economic development. Other departments’ operating budgets in the general fund include the Legislative Department ($97,360), Judicial Department ($103,547), and Executive Department ($46,567).
The city has prioritized getting the water tower in the industrial park up and running. The water tank is located on Highway 43 and is anticipated to assist approximately 250 customers in Mendenhall with water pressure and also give the city an additional well.
The increased water source provided by the tank will also assist the Mendenhall Fire Department in maintaining the current fire rating and enhance the city’s possibility for growth. Mayor Todd Booth explained that a lot of work has been put into getting the tank, including the installation of a new water pump.
The project will cost over $50,000. Initial quotes suggested it would be approximately $62,000 to get the pump installed. The project is nearing completion, and the city has acquired funds to complete the work. However, with the current cost of materials, project costs have risen more than previously anticipated. Booth explained that the city has advanced the water tank project to a good stopping point and will watch for a decrease in the cost of materials before moving forward. A maintenance plan for the water tank was also discussed during the recessed meeting.
Booth said, “This is going to help the city in a big way. We’ve been so blessed to be able to get this moving in the right direction.”
Booth explained that other projects the city hopes to accomplish in this year’s budget include looping the water system around the frontage road to assist customers in that area with water pressure.
Booth said, “We’ve placed a priority on infrastructure and we’ve gotten our sewer system where it needs to be. Now we’re working to get our water where it should be.”
During the recessed meeting the board also approved insuring the recently purchased garbage truck, a 2020 Kenworth Garbage Truck from Truckworx. It was purchased for $95,000 on the buyback program and allows the former truck to be used in a backup role. The price for insuring the new truck will be approximately $192 more than for the old truck. The previous truck was switched to only liability coverage.
The city was also able to save money and provide employees with better coverage by switching insurance policies and doing away with their employer paid GAP policy. The GAP policy was approved to become a voluntary employee deduction if 5 or more employees decided to keep the coverage.
The city budget for 2021-2022 was approved during the September 7 regularly scheduled meeting.
