Osyka aldermen unanimously approved the town’s budget with no tax increases but a 25-cent increase to the water and sewer rates.
Osyka’s millage rate will stay at 38, while its water rates will go up from $16 to $16.25, with a budget that projects a surplus in revenue by the end of the fiscal year.
Town officials project $255,422 in revenue, including $64,000 in sales tax revenue, with total projected expenses of $254,512, leaving a surplus of about $900.
In the water and sewer fund, the town expects a revenue of $192,670 with a total expense of $182,089, leaving the fund with about $10,000 in surplus.
The board also heard from resident Dennis Williams, who complained about his water meter, which he claims is inaccurate. He said he has periodically checked his meter over the past week, and the meter was inconsistent.
“Y’all are talking about raising the water rates and you can’t get this right,” he said. “I know my readings. ... Using that type of water, it has to go somewhere.”
Water and sewer operator Larry Arnold said the water meter may be defective but he would have to check it, adding that all Williams had to do was make a request at town hall for a reading.
“It will tell me how much water was used by the hour,” he said. “You may have a leak. I will run a report on it and we will see what it says.”
Later in the meeting, the board discussed selling one of two older police vehicles after it purchased a new vehicle for the department last month.
The board asked Police Chief Brian Mullins if his old vehicle, which had been plagued with mechanical issues, including lack of air conditioning, was worth keeping, and he said it was, noting the other town officer Felder Smith used it instead of another older vehicle.
The board asked why they had bought the other used car that Smith was supposed to drive if he was using Mullins’ old car. Mullins said his old vehicle had at least a year left in it and the other used car they purchased this year was to get the department by before the purchase of the new car.
“It is up to you if you want to see them, but I don’t recommend it,” he said, adding that using one primary police vehicle would hinder setting up checkpoints in town. “We would be remiss to sell either car because they were donated and we’ve had to put money into them.”
Alderman Jimmie Ray Phelps said he understood needing to keep the vehicles but said the town should not put anymore money into fixing the old police cruisers.
“Ride it until it dies and scrap it,” he said.
The board agreed with Phelps and took no action to sell the older police cars.
In other news, the board:
• Approved privilege licenses for Dollar General, Nolan Williams Trucking, Elmer Gardner Haul and A&C Trucking.
• Authorized a change order contract form with Red Oak Construction for the Community Development Block Grant-funded project to upgrade the water system and payments of $4,695 to grant administrator The Ferguson Group and $2,473 to WGK Engineers.
• Approved the certification of the municipal compliance questionnaire for 2021.
• Authorized two $400 purchases to put decals on the new police vehicle and on one old police cruiser.
