WHITMIRE — Whitmire Town Council approved the second and final readings of the 2015-16 budgets for the town of Whitmire and Public Works during a special meeting held Monday.
A public hearing was held prior to the meeting but no one spoke for or against the budget as it was presented. First reading was held May 11.
Mayor Billy Hollingsworth said the 2015-16 fiscal year budget is balanced at $640,282, which is up from $578,650 in last year’s budget.
“That’s a 9.62 percent increase due to an increase in police fines and an increase in garbage fees and money gained from the commission of public works,” Hollingsworth said.
Hollingsworth said other revenues for the town did not change that much from the previous year’s budget.
One of the biggest differences in the 2015-2016 budget is that police fines increased from $80,000 to $110,000. The town is currently already at $120,000 in the current fiscal year.
The garbage fees will go from $49 to $58, Hollingsworth said, and the town will get $36,000 from the Public Works Department for water and sewer.
Under the budget for the Commission of Public Works, the budget is balanced at $859,405, compared to last year’s number of $823,206, which is an increase of 4.21 percent.
Hollingsworth said they wouldn’t know how the year ends until the final numbers come in for July.
Hollingsworth reminded council that they were not going up on taxes and that garbage fees were the only change to the budget.
Inside garbage collection fees will increase from $5 per month to $6 per month. The outside garbage collection fee will increase from $10 to $12 per month. Garbage collection for businesses will increase from $20 to $22 per month.
“If this holds, hopefully we can do a budget next year without going up on anything,” Hollingsworth said.