By: Jeremy Handel, Staff Writer
jeremy@thewoodrufftimes.com
The City of Woodruff is projecting a significant boost to its annual budget due to expected revenue increases from recent growth.
City Manager Lee Bailey introduced the first reading of the fiscal year budget which will go into effect beginning July 1 if it passes the second reading next month. According to Bailey, the budget is projected to be approximately $10 million, an increase of nearly 43 percent or $3 million over the current year.
The city plans to put the extra resources toward increased personnel and capital improvements. Bailey said the new budget plans for five new employees in various departments across the city as well as several capital purchases like tractors and other vehicles. He said the extra expenditures will be covered by the growth and no tax increases are included in the budget.
The budget will return to the Council for a second reading at the June meeting.
Aside from the budget, the Council also approved the rezoning of a 2.46-acre parcel of land at 1035 Cross Anchor Road from single family residential to limited commercial for a proposed medical use. They also approved a proposed policy and procedures by the Woodruff Police Department concerning the operation of drones.
Chief Greg Ryan presented the new policy and told the Council that drones provide a number of benefits to the department, particularly in search and rescue operations and accident and crime scene photography and modeling.
“They are a tremendous tool that will increase the department’s efficiency in a number of areas,” he told the Council.
Chief Ryan said that two people in the department have gone through the certification training and that only certified personnel would be approved to operate the aircraft. The department has not yet procured a drone but does plan to in the future.
Woodruff City Council meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month at City Hall. The meetings are open to the public and the next meeting will be on Tuesday, June 30 at 5:30 p.m.
