Published: August 24, 2009 04:12 pm      

Pryor approves city budget

The 2009-2010 budget for the City of Pryor will be $4.9 million.

The city’s budget for the previous fiscal year was $5 million, said Mayor Jimmy Tramel in a recent budget meeting, held Aug. 14.

Tramel said the city took a shortfall of $100,000. He said he moved funds from use taxes and property taxes to make up the difference.

The mayor had originally predicted the budget to fall short by $250,000 to $300,000.

Tramel said “it’s a pretty tough budget, (but) it’s doable.”

Tramel said he calculated a 5 percent increase in health insurance, as well as a promotion for maintenance employee Billy Littlefield.

Tramel has removed clothing allowance from the budget, but he will pay for shirts for park, cemetery and street employees. He said he wants Pryor residents to be able to recognize city employees if they should need to knock on somebody’s door.

Tramel increased the budget for volunteer firefighters from $45,000 to $60,000.

City Clerk Eva Smith approached the budget and personnel committee about hiring another clerk for the city offices.

Smith said she has been trying to get the city’s data and records on Laserfiche, a document management system.

“It’s pretty much a constant battle to keep purchase orders caught up,” she said.

Because the city has more temporary and full time employees, Smith said it is harder to keep up with the paperwork. She said the clerks have a bigger workload.

Smith said she had planned on cross training her office help, but there is not enough time for everyone to learn other jobs within the office.

With the budget cut, Smith said the city cannot hire temporary employees for the office. She feels the clerks will not be able to keep up with the records.

Tramel said the city is getting an automated payroll system to help reduce the workload.

With city court two days a week, Smith said the court clerk struggles to keep up with the court records and incoming calls.

“One person can’t really do that,” she said, adding it is hard to stop working and go to the counter to take care of customers.

“I know one thing from being around this office – it’s busy,” Tramel said. He suggested the budget recommend increasing the part-time salary to accommodate another part time employee. He said the committee could consider hiring a full time clerk mid-year after reviewing the budget.

Committee member Drew Stott suggested leaving the budget as is and reviewing it later to consider hiring another clerk. Stott said he’s a little concerned about being over the $4.9 million in the budget, a recommendation by city accountant Ron Kolker.

Chairman Garry Harris reminded the committee the budget shortage was $100,000 less than it was expected to be.

Tramel said there is $7.2 million of concrete street repair needed in the city. He said the city may take out a revenue bond to fix the streets.

“If we don’t start fixing the concrete streets, they’re going to fall apart,” the mayor said.

Tramel said a bad winter storm could render some of the streets impassable.

Tramel said the street department’s budget includes $600,000 for asphalt overlay. The cemetery budget includes $70,000 for road repair, materials and labor. Funds will be transferred to the street department when the employees repair cemetery streets.

Tramel said the park department’s equipment building is in the floodway. He wants to buy the steel now to build a new building because the cost of steel is down. He has gathered three quotes on steel.

Weight equipment at Pryor Creek Recreation Center needs replacing, said Tramel. PCRC Office Manager Rose Craig said the rec center needs some new treadmills and ellipticals.

“They’re being used so much they’re wearing out,” said Tramel. He said the city may consider buying better quality equipment to replace the used machines.