Hanceville passes $4M FY2019 budget, including 5% pay raise for City employees

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W.C Mann for The Cullman Tribune

Hanceville High School fishing team coach James Woods requests renewal of council support for his program at Thursday night’s Hanceville City Council meeting. (W.C Mann for The Cullman Tribune)

HANCEVILLE – On Thursday evening, the Hanceville City Council approved its fiscal year 2019 budget in the total amount of $4,054,425, a $344,394.51 increase over last year’s $3,710,030.49 budget.

The increase in proposed expenses is driven by a similar increase in projected revenues: Hanceville expects to take in $4,178,267.50 during FY2019, an increase of almost $400,000 over last year.

Of great interest to several city employees in attendance was an approved five percent across the board salary increase.  Additionally, a $25,000 increase in the fire department budget includes a $20 fire call/$5 medical call stipend for all volunteer responders.  The City also continued its membership in AirMedCare, providing medical air transport to Hanceville residents.

The budget also includes donations to the Cullman County Veterans Day program, First Source for Women, Hanceville Senior Center, Mud Creek Festival, The Link of Cullman County, the Hanceville Antique Tractor and Engine Show, WellStone Behavioral Health, and the Wallace State Scholarship Fund.  During Thursday evening’s meeting, the council also approved $275 for the Hanceville High School fishing team.

Budget summary from Hanceville City Hall

Note: these lists are not exhaustive.

Aside from the General Fund, which draws from multiple sources, the largest specific sources of projected 2019 city revenue include:

  • ALCOHOL TAX REVENUE – $165,000
  • FIRE DEPARTMENT REVENUE – $286,818
  • MUNICIPAL COURT REVENUE – $438,109
  • PARK & RECREATION REVENUE – $102,643.50

Total Income from all sources- $4,178,267.50

The largest projected expenditures include:

  • FIRE DEPT EXPENDITURES – $399,909
  • GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES – $777,050
  • MUNICIPAL COURT EXPENDITURES – $465,170
  • POLICE DEPT EXPENDITURES – $1,076,204
  • PUBLIC WORKS DEPT EXPENDITURES – $825,232

Total of all expenditures – $4,054,425 (an additional $275 committed at Thursday’s meeting would bring the total to $,054,700)

If the projected numbers hold through FY2019, Hanceville will see a net income of nearly $124,000.

Other council business

The council also approved:

  • Sale of a surplussed dump truck to the Town of South Vinemont for $4,000
  • Street closures on Stadium Street, Park Street and Bulldog Lane for the upcoming Mud Creek Marching Band Festival on Oct. 13.
  • Event permit and street closures for the “Welcome Back Hanceville” festival and concert planned for April 27, 2019.  See below.
  • Advertising and taking bids for mowing and clearing along the 4.3-mile stretch of Mud Creek through town.  Hanceville will take bids for vendors to provide services once per year or twice per year on a three-year contract.  Bids must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 and will be opened at the council meeting that evening.
  • Appointment of Stephen Gravely as a temporary municipal judge to serve on an as-needed basis in the event that the City’s regular municipal judge must be absent.

During the public comment time, resident and business owner Nolan Bradford announced the “Welcome Back Hanceville” festival to be held from 3 to 8 p.m. on April 27, 2019.  The event will feature musical performances by country music star Irlene Mandrell of the Mandrell Sisters, former Confederate Railroad member Cody McCarver and Vicki Lynn Maxwell.

The Hanceville City Council’s next scheduled meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11 at the Hanceville City Hall auditorium, with work session at 5:30.  The public is invited to attend.

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