Grovetown accepts 2002 budget

A salary increase and a grant to the senior center has added more than $70,000 to Grovetown's budget for next year.

On Monday, the city's elected officials agreed to a 2002 general fund budget of $2,495,848.

"Mostly, it's pretty well following in line with last year," Mayor Dennis Trudeau said.

Trudeau said the general fund for 2001 was marked at $2,425,550.

The mayor said that in 2001, Grovetown has operated within its budget.

"We were well within the budget," he said. "As a matter of fact, I think this year we may have just a little surplus. We may be in the black by $35,000 or $40,000."

The increase for 2002 was a result of of a salary raise approved for city workers and $40,000 granted to the city's new senior center. City workers being paid less than $10 an hour were given a 5 percent raise, while those making more than $10 an hour received a 2 1/2 percent increase.

"For the upcoming budget we look at what the federal government is doing as far as cost of living and we usually match that," Trudeau said.

Also approved Monday was the 2002 water and sewer budget - which is separate from the general fund - at $924,000.