LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The Lafollette City Council will meet again for its next budget meeting today, on Thursday, June 11,  at 5 pm, at the La Follette Municipal Building.  The regular June council meeting adjourned in session and will pick back up on Thursday, June 25 at 5 pm to finalize the budget. This is the story following the June 4, 2020, budget meeting:

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Last night the City of LaFollette mayor, councilmen and department heads met in its first budget meeting of the month.

The council met to have a first look at the budget and to review the department heads wish list for the upcoming budget year.

The administrative department requested a local government software update to the next generation, $20,000. Councilman Bill Archer requested two tornado sirens, $60,000. Fire department items were fire hoses, $10,000; nozzles, $8,500 and 12 sets of turnout gear, $24,000. The police department needs four new patrol cars, $160,000. A new boom mower truck, $130,000 and a one-ton truck, $45,000 was requested by the public works department. The largest wish list was from the recreation department. Those items were a 72” Exmark zero turn mower, $15,000; 48” walk behind mower, $6,000; a small storage building at the RV park, $5,000; three point sprayer for the ballfield, $2,500; windows for the West LaFollette Community Center(materials and installation), $10,000; canopy at the West LaFollette Community Center, $12,000 and soffit for underneath the canopy, $6,000.

No new employee raises were in the budget, but a one time $500 bonus per employee was discussed. The total for the bonuses is $57,000.

Deborah Pemberton with Spay Campbell County requested a $1,500 donation for the program. Pemberton said she would be able to get the money matched for her program.

The council discussed the possibility of a capital outlay note in the late fall to fund some of the wish list. Currently the city has two capital outlay notes, one will be paid in the fall and that would allow the city to take on another one.

The council will gather again for its next budget meeting on Thursday, June 11,  at 5 pm at the La Follette Municipal Building.  The regular June council meeting adjourned in session and will pick back up on Thursday, June 25 at 5 pm to finalize the budget.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 06/05/2020-6AM)

Related