The Tusculum Board of Mayor and Commissioners approved an ordinance on first reading Monday night amending the current fiscal year’s budget to allow for the purchase of a new police car for the Tusculum Police Department.
The City of Tusculum has seen about $100,000 in excess revenues in the current fiscal year, and Mayor Alan Corley said the city had originally elected not to purchase a new police cruiser in this fiscal year. However, the additional revenues, resulting from higher than expected local option sales tax revenues and school zone speed camera revenue, presented the opportunity to make the purchase.
The board voted Monday night to give initial approval to the ordinance that would see $42,000 from sales tax revenues used to purchase a new Dodge Durango for the Tusculum Police Department. Another $38,000 in funds from school zone speed camera revenue would be spent to equip the cruiser with all necessary equipment. An additional $7,200 in funding received from the speed cameras would be used to purchase four AEDs (Automated External Defibrillator). An AED would be placed in each of the city’s police cars, while the fourth would be placed in Tusculum City Hall.
An additional $10,000 in funding from local sales tax revenues would be allocated for the purchase of a new sal spreader for Tusculum Public Works.
The $97,200 budget amendment will be subject to a second reading and public hearing at the May 26 meeting of the Tusculum Board of Mayor and Commissioners.
STATE TO REQUIRE SEWER RATE STUDY
During Monday’s brief meeting, Corley informed the board that the Tennessee Board of Utilities was going to require that Tusculum conduct a rate study on its sewer system, which includes nine customers.
Corley said that he was worried that the study might return a rate increase that the city would be required by the state board to implement.
“Once it gets to that point, and they step in you kind of have to do what you’re told,” Corley said.
He noted that the sewer system does not lose money, but makes a few hundred dollars each year. Corley said that does not satisfy the state utility board.
Although the state board may not be happy with the rate of return, Corley said that the city did not create the sewer system as a money making endeavor, but to provide a service to Tusculum.
Corley said that the rate study would be conducted without cost to Tusculum.
