Troy Council considering budget, personnel policies before next meeting

Published 11:00 pm Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Troy’s 2014 budget and updated policies and procedures for personnel will be on the minds of Troy City Council members over the next couple of weeks as they pour through documents presented to them Tuesday night.

The council met for a regularly scheduled work session and council meeting where the budget and personnel and policy updates were presented for a first reading.

The city is working with a budget for the upcoming fiscal year that totals more than $58 million with about $35.5 million of that amount being the utilities budget.

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Mayor Jason A. Reeves noted that while the city is saving about $127,000 in healthcare costs for the next year, the cost of retirement has gone up. Other changes include taking a look at the city’s water plan and moving capital outlay into a capital improvement fund.

“We feel like this will be a more effective management tool as we move forward,” Reeves said of the outlay change.

Personnel and policy updates, Reeves noted, have not been reassessed since 2002, so that has been a project he undertook when he took office.

The council is expected to vote on both the budget and policy and procedures on Sept. 24 and the next council meeting.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, the council voted on two resolutions that partner regarding the Pike Area Transit System. Council members voted to allow for the pursuit and application of transportation assistance funds and grants to keep the PATS program going for another year. The council also voted to authorize the city’s part in a local match for funding that totals $138,490 to be split between Troy, Brundidge and the Pike County Commission.

Also at the council meeting, members voted to adopt a credit card and expense reimbursement policy for city employees and officials. It’s a policy already in practice, but the policy has now been recorded via a resolution. For expenses, employees and officials must seek approval from the mayor for reimbursement of the use of a city credit card. After that happens, the person who received approval must take that approval and any receipts to the city clerk to be processed.

In closing comments during the meeting, Reeves reported that work from the second round of ATRIP funds received by the city has been delayed due to increased roadwork throughout the state. Projects for Enzor Road and Henderson Highway are expected to be let in December and the Elm Street project should be let in February. With the Elm Street project, planners and crews must also seek approval and permits related to bridgework.