The Brundidge City Council approved an $11.7 million budget for FY 2015 at its Monday meeting that included a 5 percent cost of living raise for all full time city employees.

The council recessed its September 16 regular meeting in order to hold a work session on the proposed budget Monday.

Brundidge City Manager Britt Thomas said the FY 2915 budget is a “very good report.”

“The budget is as good a report as I have been a part of regarding a city’s financials,” Thomas said. “Brundidge is well-positioned financially.”

Brundidge Mayor Jimmy Ramage said that for a city with a population of 2,076, Brundidge should be proud of its financial status.

“The city has $19.2 million in assets and, if we are able to make the proposed sewer improvement, that figure would climb to $21.5 million,” Ramage said. “We have good people working for us and with us so we’ve been able to keep our head above water.”

Thomas agreed that city’s departments work hand-in-hand to provide the best possible services for its residents.

When straight-line winds destroyed a city utility storage facility, the cost of rebuilding the facility was estimated at $1000,000.

“The city purchased the materials for $25,000 and the work was done by the City employees,” Thomas said. “Three departments worked together to get the job done. Our attitude is that, if it happens in the city, we fix it. There’s no, it’s mine, you can’t play with it. We have good people.”

The city rewarded its employees with the 5 percent cost of living raise that included benefits. The total cost to the city for the raise for its 45 fulltime employees will be $96,368.

Thomas said of the city’s $11 million dollar budget, $2.4 million is for salaries and benefits.

get, the council approved appropriations totally $169,000 to agencies that provide services to the city.

The funds appropriated included the Brundidge Industrial Development Board, $80,000; Pike County Economic Development Corp. $24,000; Pike County Transit System, $19,000; OCAP, $15,500; Pike County Board of Education, $10,000 (summer program); East Central Mental Health, $10,000; Pike County Chamber of Commerce, $6,000; Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center, $2,500; and the Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center, $1,000.

The budget also included $150,000 for legal fees in the pending litigation regarding the Brundidge Landfill.

Dates have been set for the Brundidge City Council and the Coffee County Commission to provide briefs and responses to the court. Final written responses by both parties must be made by Nov. 7. Two cases are to be argued.

Oral arguments will be made on Nov. 13, 2014, at the Enterprise Courthouse for one case and on Nov. 20 at the Enterprise Courthouse for the other case.

Thomas said now that the cases are going to be heard, the legal fees will again be a budget item.

At the close of the meeting, the council discussed the declining number in the Brundidge Nutrition Program.

Council Member Cynthia Pearson said a concerted effort should be made to get more participants involved. If not, city could lose the program for its senior adults.

The Brundidge City Council meets at 4 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month at Brundidge City Hall. The meetings are open to the public.