By By Arthur Mclean
The Atmore City Council approved the city's budget for the next fiscal year Monday. The final budget was set at $5.4 million, a slight increase over last year's budget of $5.2 million.
The general government fund received a 17 percent of this year's budget funds, police department 20 percent, fire department 11 percent and the subsidies and appropriations fund received 16 percent of the budget funds.
The budget was approved unanimously without discussion at Monday's meeting.
The city also approved an emergency purchase list that will include three police cars to replace units that were damaged during Hurricane Ivan. The council also gave Mayor Howard Shell authority to pay for other emergency purchase relating to Hurricane Ivan.
A transfer of the retail liquor license from Gerlach's to McElhaney's Restaurant was approved, and the city approved an amendment to the city ordinance allowing subcontractor contracts of up to $30,000 for the next 180 days to facilitate hurricane debris cleanup.
In a previous council meeting two days before Hurricane Ivan, the city set Halloween trick-or-treat hours for Oct. 30 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The city also approved a permit for the Sav-A-Life chain pro-life demonstration to be held Oct. 3, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. from U.S. 31 to Church Street.