Public Safety Tops Proposed City Budget

City officials this week unveiled the proposed 1998-99 budget, which calls for the bulk of funds to go toward public safety.

If approved, about 60% of the $27.3-million budget will be spent on police and fire services, although it includes no new officers or firefighters, City Manager Jerry L. Bankston said.

The proposed budget also calls for contracting the city’s street sweeping and tree trimming services. The city’s streets then could be swept each week rather than twice a month, Bankston said.

Because a number of tree trimmer and street sweeper positions currently are vacant, no one would lose his or her job, he said. Instead, the city’s three tree trimmers would do park maintenance.

One city street sweeper would remain in his position to serve as an on-call worker, who also would be able to sweep areas that normally go untouched, such as parking lots and drainage areas.

The City Council will review the 308-page budget at a meeting June 13 and will hold a public hearing June 18.