DECATUR — The proposed 2014 city budget was the main topic when the Decatur City Council met in open session on Nov. 12 in the council chamber room of city hall.

Mayor Charles Linam and City Clerk Kim Wilkins presented the budget to the city council for approval.

Linam and other city offi cials met in closed session back in mid-October to review the current status of the 2013 budget and to propose a budget for thecoming fiscal year 2014. The session took two days to complete.

The city of Decatur has taken in around $595,000 in revenues for the current fiscal year 2013, (from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31). The city was budgeted for $743,135 for2013 and has only used 80 percent of that amount.

The budget covers the operations of city functions, including administration, fi re, police, parks and recreation, streets, and library fund. The Decatur waste water treatment plant and water department have a separate budget from the city although they are still operated under some city regulations.

Several factors had to be assessed to arrive at the figures for the 2014 city budget. Rising fuel and maintenance cost, replacement cost of outdated and worn equipment, upkeep of city property, insurance and labor cost are a few items that are factored into the 2014 budget.

Based on these projections, the budgeted expenditures/revenues break down to: Administration - $730,675, Police - $340,000, Fire - $72,740, Parks and Recreation - $57,385, Library Fund - $36,325, Total - $730,675.

The water department proposed 2014 budget is expecting revenue/expenditures of $3,152,100. Replacing worn out and outdated equipment was cited as the reason for the rise in the 2014 budget projections.

The council took one hour to discuss the budget before fi nal approval. This budget will go into effect Jan. 1, 2014.

In other council business:

The 2012 Water Audit was approved.

The Decatur police department reported 89 calls for service during October.

The Decatur Depot Museum is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and chargesno admission. The visitor count for the fi rst three weeks of operation is 31. A little over half that number are visitors from out of state.

Chief David Flynt reported that the Decatur Fire Department responded to 18 fi rst responder calls and one vehicle fi re. Flynt reported that the Halloween open house served 200 kids on Oct. 31. The department also collected $1,765.49 during their MDA boot drive during fire prevention week in October.

Flynt will step down as Decatur fire chief, effective Jan. 1, 2014. Forrest Tharp will take over his position as fi re chief.

The Decatur City Council meets on the second Monday of each month. It is open to the public. Any Decatur citizen wishing to bring an item before the council needs to contact Mayor Charles Linam or City Clerk Kim Wilkins at Decatur’s city hall.

News, Pages 1 on 11/20/2013