WEST POINT — The Town of West Point passed its FY 2019 budget Monday night, with revenues expected to be up from 2018.

The projected revenue for the fiscal year is $436,632.20, with expenses at $378,885.41. Those revenues are around 10 percent higher than last year’s budget, according to West Point Mayor Kenneth Kilgo.

“We’re up in our total collections, which is an indicator that the economy is better,” he said.

The town will keep the projected $57,746 surplus for any unseen expenditures in the coming year.

“We’ll have that there for anything that may come up,” Kilgo said. 

Kilgo also provided an update on the Alabama Highway 157 turn lane being constructed at the intersection with County Road 1242. 

He said the asphalt is in place and remaining work on the lane includes additional landscaping and painting of lines and stripes.

“The turn lane itself is pretty much finished,” he said.

Along with the 1,400-foot deceleration and turn lane, a combination convenience store, gas station and fast-food restaurant is being built at the intersection.

Both projects were on schedule for completion this month until weather delays pushed completion into November.

“We’re really going to push hard to have everything open by Thanksgiving,” Kilgo said.

Kilgo hopes the turn lane and new business will lead to more growth in the area.

He said he’s in talks with businesses interested in expanding into the area.

“It’s going to open up some things,” he said.