In the latest meeting to discuss the City of Nicholson’s proposed 2012 budget totaling $426,000, council member Chuck Wheeler questioned the amounts included in the proposed budget for equipment and roadwork.
Wheeler said, “I know people think I want to cut the budget, but that’s not it. I think we might want to put more in some places.”
Mayor Ronnie Maxwell advised Wheeler that road work and equipment will come out of special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) revenue over the next six years – not out of the general fund.
Wheeler said, “I wanted you (talking to Jan Webster), myself, Lamar, whoever to have some input.”
Wheeler said the city has $150,000 in its checking account and he thought $50,000 should be taken out and put in the budget for streets.
“When you have a half-million dollars coming in over the next six years why would you want to take your money to pave a street?” Maxwell asked. “If that T-SPLOST passes it will be even better.”
Wheeler said, “It is not that I am for cutting the budget or that I’m criticizing the budget. I just think with the money we have, we should put more in some line items to keep from swapping money around through the year.”
Wheeler said the council signed a resolution last year that gave Maxwell the authority to move money from one line item in the budget to another. “I’m just saying we didn’t get this signed at the beginning of the year and we should have, according to the charter,” Wheeler said.
Council member Lamar Watkins recommended that the city take care of the equipment needs instead of “patching the old equipment.”
Watkins said, “Y’all need to do more for the schools, that is what I’m concerned about.”
Wheeler also suggested a pay raise for the mayor and city council members.
“Lamar and I are going off,” he said. “You can’t vote to give yourself more money, but Lamar and I could with a third vote, vote to increase the mayor and council salaries,” he said.
Maxwell said he would not be in favor of a pay increase. “I am fine with what we have now,” he said.
Watkins went on to question Maxwell about the removal of his and Wheeler’s name from the council board at city hall. “I went to City Hall yesterday, who took our names down?” Watkins asked.
“I did,” Maxwell said.
Watkins said, “Did you have the right to do that?”
Maxwell replied, “I put them up. I have as much right as anyone.”
Wheeler said, at the close of the meeting, “I wish y’all a lot of luck.”
Newly-elected council members Webster and Faye Seagraves were both in attendance on Tuesday night.
