Welcome to our new web site!
To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.
During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.
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.