Although the Ragland Town Council approved its FY2010 budget a couple of weeks ago, they are already looking at making amendments.

The financial committee met last week with the department heads to discuss all aspects of the city financially. The financial committee is comprised of council members Perry Poe, Chad Seales and Cathy Riggs.

Department heads at the meeting were police chief James “Bubba” Brown, water supervisor Tim McKinney and street department supervisor Paul Davis. Mayor Lanis White was also at the meeting.

While the council agreed to table approving a budget at its Oct. 12 meeting until they had time to go over it at a work session, one week later at a called meeting, Poe made a motion to accept last year’s budget as the new FY 2010 budget. This action displeased White, who said, “Perry has criticized this particular budget all year.”

Last week, the financial committee discussed everything from pay raises, road repairs, Christmas bonuses, cell phones, New Town project, equipment repairs, new equipment purchases and the lighting outside the municipal complex.

“We went ahead and approved the new budget because we were pushed for time,” Poe said. “We have a lot of potential expenses and we do not get our main funding until January and February. The council did not feel comfortable spending money that we did not know if we were going to have or not.”

Last year, the town council did not approve the FY 2009 budget until this past April or May.

Poe said the previous administration should have approved that budget.

“We were behind the eight ball all the way around,” Poe said. “This way, we have something to work on until we know what our revenue is going to be.”

Poe said the two biggest expenses facing the town this year include the road paving projects and the pay raises.

The committee agreed that roads in Ragland were getting in bad shape and some have even turned into dirt roads. The roads that need the most attention include McGuffie Drive, 5th Avenue, 21st Street and 17th Street.

Riggs wanted to know if the county could help them out and White said he believed they would.

“Let’s do what we can this year and maybe do more next year,” Poe said. “We can compile a list and then evaluate them.”

As for pay raises, Seales said a $1 per hour raise for the eight employees would cost an additional $16,640 annual to the town.

Brown said in order to keep good employees, the pay has to be in line with surrounding municipalities.

Poe reminded the committee and the department heads that they were talking in general and all this would have to be approved by the town council.