The Smithville Board of Mayor and Aldermen adopted the new 2006-2007 budget on first reading Monday night.
The new budget totals $5-million 122-thousand 699 dollars. Under the new spending plan, the property tax rate will remain the same at 68 cents per $100 of assessed value.
The new budget calls for the water and sewer rates to remain the same. City water customers will continue to pay $3.50 for the first one thousand gallons of water usage plus $3.50 for each additional one thousand gallons of usage. Rates for customers outside the city limits are 50% higher. The rate the city charges the DeKalb Utility District is $1.70 per thousand gallons.
City sewer customers, under the new budget, will continue to pay the flat usage rate of $3.62 plus $3.25 per thousand gallons thereafter.
Water tap fees for customers inside the city limits is $400 for a three quarter inch water line and the sewer tap fee is $400 for a four inch sewer line. If the lines are larger, the fees are cost plus 10%. For customers outside the city limits, water tap fees are $525 for a three quarter inch line and $525 for a four inch sewer line. Again, if the lines are larger, then the fees are cost plus 10%.
The proposed budget calls for city employees with up to four years of service to get their automatic step pay increases as defined in the wage scale plus a 3.9% cost of living increase. City employees with more than four years of service, who have topped out on the wage scale including salaried employees, will only get the 3.9% cost of living increase.
When the fiscal year started July 1, 2005, the general fund was projected to be $531, 815 in the red by June 30, 2006, but by eliminating unnecessary spending during the year, city officials have revised the deficit projection down to $147,364.
The General Fund would actually show a surplus of $102,636 by the end of the month, however the cost of operating the city’s sanitation system comes to $250,000 a year. Since the city has no garbage collection fee for customers, the general fund must absorb the cost, thus creating the $147,364 deficit. Funds from the city’s surplus must make up the difference
City officials are projecting that the general fund will show a deficit of $714,655 by June 30, 2007 unless spending can be held in check again during the year. If not, then the city may have to use more of the money from the surplus to balance the budget.
The water and sewer fund, at the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1, 2005, was expected to finish with a surplus of $273,413 by June 30, 2006. The projection now is for the fund to show a surplus of $570,061. However, the water and sewer fund is expected to finish the new budget year on June 30, 2007 with a deficit of $67,594, unless spending can be controlled.
Proposed capital outlay expenditures in the general fund for the new year come to $550-thousand dollars. Specific projects are as follows: Financial Administration- $7,500 including $5,000 for a computer upgrade and $2,500 unspecified; Parks and Recreation- $15,000 unspecified; Public Works/Buildings and Grounds- $15,000 unspecified; City Hall Building Alteration per ADA- $8,500 including $5,000 for handicapped rehabilitation and $3,500 unspecified; Fire Protection- $375,000 to begin the first phase of a proposed expansion of the fire hall; Street Department- $65,000 including $25,000 for sidewalk improvements, $10,000 for downtown beautification, and $30,000 unspecified; Police Department- $39,000 including $25,000 for a police car and $14,000 unspecified; Swimming Pool- $10,000 for capital repairs; Airport- $10,000 unspecified; Animal Shelter- $5,000 unspecified; Sanitation Fund- $130,000 including $125,00 for a truck&bed and $5,000 unspecified; and Drug Fund- $5,000 unspecified.
Proposed water and sewer fund capital outlay expenditures include $15,000 for a pickup truck for the sewer plant, $20,000 for an update of sewer plant equipment, $25,000 for an update of the water plant and engineering fees, and $20,000 for a sewer rehabilitation camera.
Although these capital outlay projects are budgeted, they all may not be funded during the year.
Second and final reading action on the budget will follow a public hearing at the next meeting on Monday, June 19 at 7:00 p.m. at city hall.

A total of 424 people voted early in the Smithville Municipal Election from May 31st through June 15th at the courthouse.
Election Day voting will be from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the courthouse.
A mayor and two aldermen will be elected on Tuesday, June 20. The positions are currently held by Mayor Cecil Burger and Aldermen Steve White and Jackie Rigsby.
Taft Hendrixson and Jerry Hutchins’ Sr. are running for mayor.
Candidates for aldermen are Incumbents Stephen White and Jackie Rigsby and challengers Cecil Burger and Alford Webber.
Each of the terms is for two years.
Call 597-4146 for more information.

State Senator Mae Beavers (R-Mt. Juliet) stated today that she is pleased that the Governor had kept his commitment to restore all the state-shared taxes to local governments. The General Assembly passed a bill to make the restoration permanent.
We are very glad to see that all of the state-shared taxes taken to balance Governor Bredesen’s budget in 2003 have now been fully restored,? stated Senator Beavers. The Governor made a commitment to us last year to restore half of those funds then and the other half this year. We are pleased that he has honored that commitment to us and to local governments.
Last year, members of the General Assembly were concerned that the state-shared taxes had not started to be returned in 2004 as many had expected. Public Chapter 503, Acts of 2005, restored half last year in the Fiscal Year 2005-2006 budget. That amount was projected then to be $20 million.
This year, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 3970 to restore the other half of the state-shared taxes and to make the restoration permanent. Based on increased revenue projections, that figure is now budgeted at $24 million for Fiscal Year 2006-2007.
Senator Beavers represents Senate District 17 which includes Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Macon, Smith, Trousdale, and Wilson counties, and part of Sumner County.

With a beautiful spring rain as a backdrop, the Democratic party faithful gathered under shelter number one at Greenbrook Park on Thursday evening to call for renewed efforts in the upcoming elections. Initially, over 200 people entered the area immediately surrounding the band shell at Smithville’s most beautiful park to the sounds of the TCB Band and the Smithville Community Chorus.
The tales of a tranquil evening soon turned breezy and threatening weather briefly disrupted local elected officials serving fresh, hot barbeque with all the trimmings. County Executive Mike Foster, General Sessions Judge Batten Cook, Register of Deeds Jeff McMillan, Assessor of Property Timothy “Fud” Banks, County Court Clerk Mike Clayborn, and Circuit Court Clerk Katherine Pack broke down the tables as quickly as possible and moved the food under a shelter while the remainder of the crowd and local candidates took cover from the arriving rain. Even though the inclement weather was a brief distraction, the spirits ran high and everyone settled in for what turned out to be a wonderful evening, reminisce of a by gone era. One filled with laughter and singing; cozy seating and good ole time feeling of togetherness. No public address system, no stage ? just a podium and the voices of those seeking office. The most fundamental elements of politics permeated this crowd as they listened to their candidates speak. Party Chair Faye Fuqua called the meeting to order and Katherine Pack led the pledge of allegiance while Jackie Smith gave a stirring rendition of our national anthem. Sheriff candidate Myron Rhody spoke first, and then Russell Ambrose introduced Trustee candidate Anthony “Doc” Green. Next, Criminal Court Judge Lillie Ann Sells spoke to the crowd.
Bert Driver then came to the podium and introduced Congressman Harold Ford, JR. Ford, candidate for the US Senate called for those in attendance to remember that Democrats have always led the way in new and innovative ideas, and that he believes in a balanced budget, something the current administration and Republican led Congress has forgotten. Ford, 36, hails from Memphis and spoke passionately about the importance of the upcoming election. His spirit and zeal energized the crowd at Greenbrook Park as he thundered away about what it means to care about your fellow man; in fact, lightning and thunder provided a dramatic backdrop for the evenings’ key note speaker. The revved up crowd gave Harold Ford, Jr. a standing ovation as he mounted up in his black ford pickup and headed to his next campaign stop.
Other candidates and officials who spoke were: Mike Foster, Second District County Commission Candidate Shane Cook, Sixth District County Commissioner Marshall Ferrell, Judge Bratten Cook, II, Katherine Pack, Mayoral Candidate Jerry Hutchins, Sr. Mike Clayborn, State Representative Frank Buck, Timothy “Fud” Banks, Jeff McMillan, District Public Defender in the 13th District David N. Brady, Two State Senate candidates from the 17th District were represented: Bob Rochelle of Lebanon was represented by his son Bruce Rochelle while Aubrey T. Givens also of Lebanon was represented by his fianc?e.
Faye Fuqua closed the program by reminding everyone that there was still work to be done and that nothing is to be taken for granted. She thanked all the candidates and especially recognized all the members of the DeKalb County Democratic Executive Committee for all their hard work and for making the event possible.

The Smithville Police Department has made two arrests in a recent burglary.
18 year old Gary Christopher Ponder of Old Mill Road, Dowelltown and 18 year old Brittney Danielle Barnes of Belk Road, Smithville are each charged with aggravated burglary and theft under $500.
Officer Mike Billings, in his report, states that “I was conducting an investigation of a burglary that took place at the home of Paul Robinson at 7176 Cill Street, Smithville on May 21st. Barnes did admit to entering the home of Robinson by using a hammer and screwdriver to gain entry to the back door of the residence. Once inside the house, she and her boyfriend, Gary Ponder, took a bottle of prescription morphine (15mg) and a bottle containing 4-5 percocets (5mg). Miss Barnes did make a statement admitting her involvement in the break-in and theft. Barnes said she sold the drugs for money.”
Billings, in his report, further stated that ” Ponder admitted his involvement in the break-in.”
Bond for both is set at $15,000 each and they will appear in General Sessions Court on the charges June 15th.