By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



The Gardendale City Council approved the city’s operating budget for the 2010 fiscal year at Monday night’s meeting.

Othell Phillips said while the budget is $800,000 less than last year’s actual numbers, the city’s residents should not expect to see a noticeable decrease in services.

“If you didn’t notice it last year, you won’t notice it this year,” he said. “We basically just cut the fat out of the budget.”

The budget expenditures were derived using actual figures from the 2009 budget through Sept. 30 of this year. Phillips said that number was increased by 4.3 percent to provide a cushion for each department.

The projected revenue for the 2010 budget is $11.2 million while expenditures are estimated to be $11.1 million. The city also has a projected debt expenditure of $1.35 million.

The city has also not budgeted for any capital purchases for 2010. Phillips said any capital projects will be paid for out of grants the city has applied for. The city currently has about $6 million in reserve funds.

“We’ll basically just maintain what we have and hope the economy turns around,” Phillips said.

In other business, the council voted to raise the speed limit on a portion of

Fieldstown Road. The affected stretch, which is less than one mile, is located between the intersection of Fieldstown and Odum Roads to where the road turns from four lanes to two near Cracker Barrell. The council voted to change the speed limit from 35 to 45 miles per hour.

The change will go effect when the ordinance has been published and new signs are installed.

Phillips said there was little concern over increased accidents in that section of road because turn lanes are present throughout.

“There was an abundance of people calling and writing letters to city hall asking that we change that,” he said. “We consulted with the city attorney and the League of Municipalities and felt like we needed to increase that.”

The speed limit east of the Fieldstown and Odum Road intersection and west of the two-lane merge will remain 35 miles per hour.

In other business, the council:

• appointed Oscar Mann and Barry Brake to the parks and recreation board

• appointed Kenny Clemons and Chris Lucas to the Citizens Education Committee

The council will meet again on Nov. 16 at 6 p.m..