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The City of Hamlet is set to review the proposed fiscal year 2012-13 budget at its regular council meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

General fund spending is looking at a proposed reduction of $674,775 — coinciding with an expected decrease of the same amount in general fund revenues.

All departments except finance, public buildings, fire department, non-departmental water funds and water administration, are looking at proposed budget reductions for FY 2012-13.

“That’s just because we purchased a lot of vehicles last year, in different government departments,” said Finance Officer Jill Dickens. “This year’s proposed budget is more in line with what is normally expected.”

According to Personnel Director Edna Titchi, the city is considering doing a “salary study” but for now city employee salaries will remain the same.

“Salary studies allow us to compare city employee salaries with other local governments,” said Titchi.

Last year, the city budgeted an expected $1,007,221 for fund balance appropriations, but the amount of funds used was lower and ended up at an estimated $817,566. The proposed fund balance appropriation for FY 2012-13 is $428,615.

“$428,615 is more in line with the city’s usual fund appropriations,” said Dickens. “The estimated $1 million in the previous fiscal year was used to pay off capital projects that had been going over several years.”

One major project included a $403,500 project at the 62 Stinson Building.

As of June 30, 2011, the city has maintained a healthy fund balance of $2,728,908 combined general funds — $2,198,527 of that is unreserved. The city’s enterprise fund is sitting at $1,330,739.

In FY 2011-12, the city made its first donation to Discovery Place-KIDS in Rockingham. The city has committed to contributions of $5,000 per year for five years. The contribution came from the governing bodies fund.

Hamlet’s overall general fund expenditures for fiscal year 2011-2012 amounted to $5,192,420, while the proposed general fund expenditures in the 2012-2013 budget — which would take effect July 1 — are set at $4,517,645, a reduction of $674,775.

Last year, governing body expenditures were budgeted for $35,265 and have been proposed at $29,410 for FY 2012-13; administration expenditures were budgeted for $783,490 and have been proposed at $391,100 for FY 2012-13; finance expenditures were budgeted for $146,415 and have been proposed at $148,380 for FY 2012-13; public building expenditures last year were budgeted for $185,760 and have been proposed at $196,690 for FY 2012-13; last year, the Hamlet Police Department was budgeted for $1,338,425 and a budget of $1,317,190 has been proposed for FY 2012-13; the Hamlet Fire Department was budgeted for $831,490 last year and a budget of $857,700 has been proposed for FY 2012-13; the streets and highways fund was allocated $507,835 last year and a budget of $444,850 has been proposed for FY 2012-13; the sanitation fund was allocated $328,985 last year and a budget of $303,300 has been proposed for FY 2012-13; the Hamlet Senior Center was allocated $135,950 last year and a budget of $109,700 has been proposed for FY 2012-13; the recreation budget was allocated $473,685 last year and a budget of $323,000 has been proposed for FY 2012-13; the horticulture budget was allocated $98,400 last year and a budget of $97,950 has been proposed for FY 2012-13; non-departmental general funds were budgeted for $326,720 last year and a budget of 298,375 has been proposed for FY 2012-13.

Powell Bill fund revenues last year were budgeted at $243,750 and have been proposed at $235,535 for FY 2012-13.

Water fund revenues last year were budgeted for $2,851,000 and have been proposed at $2,570,500 for FY 2012-13.

Nondepartmental water fund expenditures were budgeted at $662,596 last year and have been proposed at $701,560 for FY 2012-13; water administration was budgeted at $141,590 last year and has a proposed budget of $150,310 for FY 2012-13; the water treatment plant was budgeted at $777,990 last year and has a proposed budget of $547,550 for FY 2012-13; the water distribution system was budgeted at $513,950 last year and has a proposed budget of $464,500 for FY 2012-13; the waste treatment plant received a budget of $523,869 last year and has a proposed budget of $483,470 for FY 2012-13; the waste collection system received at budget of $231,005 last year and has a proposed budget of $223,110 for FY 2012-13.

Tuesday’s budget meeting is open to the public. Hamlet City Hall is located at 201 Main Street in Hamlet.