Flomaton OKs budget for 2021-2022 year
The Flomaton Town Council passed its 2021-2022 budget Monday afternoon that projects revenues to be 20 percent above expenses and also increases water, sewer and garbage rates by 3 percent beginning Oct. 1.
Mayor Dewey Bondurant, Jr., said the budget does include two new vehicles for the utility department: one for the parks and the other for waste water.
Mayor Bondurant said in years past the council had automatically raised utility rates 3 percent but had stopped that practice several years ago. He said the council voted last year to increase rates 3 percent but it was never done.
Councilman Roger Adkinson questioned how franchise fee income could jump from a budget of $1,000 last year to $99,000 for the upcoming year.
Town Clerk Carrie Moore said she and Utilities Superintendent Shaun Moye looked at it and said the current budget more accurately reflects what the town receives in franchise fees from companies like Alabama Power, MediaCom and South Alabama Gas.
Mayor Bondurant said some of the funds were going into different accounts but now they will all go into a line item for franchise fees.
Moore also said the council needs to go over all of its franchise agreements.
Town Attorney Chuck Johns said the city of Brewton recently did a review of its franchise fees and made adjustments.
Adkinson, who attended a League of Municipalities meeting earlier Monday in Montgomery, said one of the topics was about municipalities charging for the use of their rights of way.
“People are using our right-of-way without paying,” Adkinson said. “What they mess up we have to fix. That's why I asked.”
He asked if the town was permitting the use of the rights of way and Moye said no. The council agreed to look into right-of-way fees and permits..
Councilwoman Kay Wagner said she wanted the council to think about adding $1 per month to the water bills for the fire department that could help the town purchase a new fire truck or needed equipment.
Wagner said it would only cost the citizens $12 per year.
Mayor Bondurant said the town already spends a lot on the fire department and noted the council just voted to raised the water rates 3 percent.
“We'll catch heck if we go up more,” Bondurant said.
Wagner said she just wanted the council to think about it.