The Sweetwater City Commission on Monday unanimously passed the final reading of the $4.6 million city budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year that begins today (July 1).

Despite the poor economy and poor sales tax revenue, the budget process was not acrimonious though major cuts were made toward the end of the current budget year.

The budget as passed Monday calls for no property tax increase.
Because the budget as projected would actually put a little cash (about $15,000) back in the reserve fund at the end the new fiscal year, outgoing Mayor Jim Stutts at the June 1 meeting had asked commissioners to put back in $11,700 in funding to non-profits.

But commissioners did not put in the non-profit funding and quickly moved on to other businesses.
Commissioners approved the final reading of Ordinance No. 837, adopting a new map showing the zoning areas in the city and approved the final reading of an ordinance zoning a strip of land along the interstate as A-1.

Commissioners approved the city school system's budget for the coming school year and accepted a bid from Jacky Jones Ford for a 2004 SUV for the Police Department for $11,200.
An insured driver hit an SPD patrol car earlier in the year totaling the cruiser.  The insurance payoff was about $11,300. 

SPD couldn't replace the patrol car with only 40,000 miles on it for that amount.  The SUV will go to the police chief and his cruiser will go to a detective.
The detective's patrol car, which has lower mileage, will go to the sergeant on patrol.
After the called meeting, the commission reconvened as the Beer Board and approved an on-premise beer permit for the Hilltop Hotel.

The commission then held a brief workshop.
Stutts informed the commission a new state law will allow permitted handgun carriers to have weapons in public recreation areas in the city.
However, he said the city could opt out of that law by passing its own resolution to not allow guns in those areas.

On the advice of Police Commissioner Bill Stockton and Police Chief Eddie Byrum, the commissioners plan to pass a resolution not allowing guns in the park areas.
Stutts and Street Commissioner Buster West paid tribute to outgoing Commissioner James Matoy, who was not re-elected June 11.

New Mayor Doyle Lowe and Commissioners Bill Stockton and Julian Walton will be sworn in at noon today (July 1) at City Hall.
The Mayor and Board of Commissioners will meet in regular session at 7 p.m. Monday.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101