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Huntingdon Approves Budget, Tennis Court Improvement

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HUNTINGDON (May 23) — The Town of Huntingdon Mayor and Council approved the first of two readings on the 2023-24 fiscal year budget. Additionally, the Board approved $38,000 to renovate tennis courts that are in disrepair and voted to buy two patrol cars and two trucks for the Utility Department.
The Council approved a $5,544,700 budget on the first reading with a property tax rate of $1.2487 per $100 assessed value, the same rate as in the previous year.
Mayor Nina Smothers said the budget includes a $1.05 per hour increase in pay for city employees, additional compensation for employees of the Police Department according to job description, new electronic equipment to automatically read water meters, and improvements to the culvert on Williams Street and the sewer lagoon. The town will also install a sewer pump station in the 1000-Acre Lake area and complete the water line replacement along East Main Street.
Smothers said the town pays approximately $9,900 annually per employee on group health insurance and provides a $50,000 life insurance policy on each.
A public hearing will be held before the second reading of the budget.
The budget for the Water-Sewer Department was also approved with a projected revenue of $6,310,550, with reserves from the previous year of $258,000 to equal $6,568,550.
An increase of 3.0 percent as part of the automatic cost of living was approved for the water and sewer rates.
Tap fees for new water or sewer lines were also approved for an increase due to the extra cost of supplies to make the taps.
The tennis courts are in disrepair. The city appropriated $38,000 to renovate the two courts and add striping to designate the playing surface of four pickleball courts in Veterans Park. The lone contractor to bid was Sport Rite of Tullahoma.

Juneteenth is officially a city holiday with a unanimous vote. The first is June 19, 2023. In relation to the celebration of the holiday, the Carroll County Juneteenth Committee was granted permission to host a Juneteenth Freedom Festival on Saturday, June 17 at Edwards Park.
The Board approved an expense of $121,117 to purchase a new sewer-clearing machine (a jetter) that unstops blocked sewer line. Randy Crossett said the current machine is 30 years old.
Wilson Heating and Air Conditioning was awarded the contract to replace the 7.5-ton rooftop heating and cooling system at the Public Safety Building (old City Hall).
Huntingdon Primary School experienced a water leak, which resulted in a $12,086 monthly bill compared to the average bill of $5,989.50. The Board adjusted the bill to be $6,189.50 ($5,989.50 plus $200).
The Board approved the second and final reading to increase the cost limit on purchases requiring public newspaper advertisement. The new limit is up to $20,000.
The 2022-23 fiscal year budget, ending June 30, was amended to better reflect the actual revenues and expenses of the town during the fiscal year. Governmental agencies approve a ‘best-guess’ budget at the beginning of each fiscal year and amend the budget during the year to reflect actual expenses.
Mayor Smothers announced the city’s three storm sirens are functional and are now tested monthly. In April, two of the three were malfunctioning.