By By Adam Prestridge
City of Atmore employees will have a little more in their wallets following the council's approval to award them with a five percent step raise.
The council approved the 2007-08 operating budget, which included the raises and an increase of $111,770 over last year's budget. The new budget totals$6,437,270 compared to last year's budget of $6,325,500.
Being able to give all the city's employees raise is pleasing to mayor Howard Shell.
"We were fortunate enough with last year's revenue and what is projected for next year to give the employees a step raise," Shell said. "We look for good things to continue to happen with the city with all the things we have going on."
Shell said every other year the city tries to give employees step raises and on the odd years a percentage raise. Each raise is based on the employee's current position, pay rate or step they are at.
The more than $6 million budget consists of the following:
The police department and fire department received the most increase over last year's budget. The police department's budget increased $226,685 over the 2006-07 budget of $1,351,800. The fire department's budget increased $92,860 over last year's budget of $710,750.
Subsidies and appropriations was where the city cut the most, saving $181,745. Last year's budget called for $1,025,820. Also, there is no longer a budget for animal control, which called for $88,350 last year.
In other business, the council: