by Kathy Foster
After two lengthy meetings, one on Sept. 5th and the other on Sept. 9th, members of Chipley City Council approved a budget for the upcoming fiscal year in a sepcial meeting Sept. 10th.
Final approval came Tuesday afternoon just before the County’s regular monthly meeting.
As approved the 2019-2020 budget includes a 3% pay increase for employees, a new proposed pay scale, and 13 paid holidays.
City Administrator Dan Miner was quick to point out Sept. 5th that all the Enterprise Fund accounts were already balanced and city staffers would have the General Fund accounts ready for the Sept. 9th meeting and they were.
At the Sept. 9th meeting council members discussed the Recreation Department, Street Department, Cemetery and Grounds, Fire Department, Police Department, and Administrative Department.
While all departments took some cuts, council members felt the final results would meet the needs of the City.
Council members approved the following Tentative Budget and Millage Rate at their Sept. 10 Special Meeting:
- The City of Chipley of Washington County, Florida set forth appropriations and revenue estimates for the budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 in the amount of $10,227,136.
- The Fiscal Year 2019-2020 operating millage rate is 7.000 mills which is more than the rolled-back rate of 6.9301 mills by 1.01%.
The final public hearing on the proposed budget is set for Sept. 25, 2019.