Andalusia OKs $13.1M budget

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The Andalusia City Council adopted a $13.1 million fiscal year 2011-2012 budget Tuesday night.

The budget includes $11.8 million in expenditures and $1.3 million in contingency funds. State law re-quires cities to hold funds in contingency for unforeseen events.

Last year’s $12.5 million budget included $11.3 million in expenditures and $1.25 million in contingency funds.

Mayor Earl Johnson called the budget “basically the same as last year’s” except for personnel increases previously approved by the council. In September, the council agreed to fund employees’ annual merit raises; grant a one-time cost-of-living (COLA) raise of 3 percent; continue fully funding retirement contributions, and continue to pay most health insurance costs. The estimated price tag was $376,000.

“Basically, we are budgeting at the same level as we were three years ago, except for personnel changes,” Johnson said.

Expenditures by department break down to:

• Administration – $1.3 million (includes $218,751 for municipal court.)

• $836,224 for planning and development

• $2.25 million for police

• $1.03 million for fire

• $1.8 million for public works

• $2.01 million for leisure services, including parks and rec, library and golf course.

• $1.1 million for education

• $1.2 million in debt service

• $165,600 in miscellaneous expenses.