South Charleston council has approved a $25.3 million budget for the financial year that begins July 1.
The budget is $3.6 million or 16.5 percent higher than the current plan.
The city expects its largest source of revenue - the business and occupation tax - to increase 6 percent, from $10.1 million to $10.8 million, in the new financial year. It expects property taxes to remain unchanged at $5.1 million. It anticipates a completely new source of revenue: a 1 percent municipal sales tax, enacted late last year.
The sales tax takes effect on July 1. The city expects to collect $2.9 million in the new year and $4.2 million annually thereafter.
Personnel expenses, which make up 47 percent of the budget, will increase $273,531 to $11.9 million because council on Thursday by unanimous vote approved a 25-cent-per-hour pay raise for all 267 city employees, effective July 1. In addition, the pay scale for non-uniformed employees will be revised on Jan. 1.
All city workers hadn't received a raise for four or five years. The pay scale for police and firefighters was adjusted in 2014.
Other budget highlights:
n The paving budget will double, from $500,000 to $1 million. The sales tax will fund the increase.
n Three fire fighters will be added to enable Fire Station 4 to operate at a minimum staffing of three firefighters per shift.
n The city will purchase a new garbage truck. It also will buy three dump trucks and two pick-up trucks equipped with snow packages.
n $1 million will be contributed to fire and police pensions in addition to a regular $1 million contribution.
n The city will deposit $914,360 in its rainy day fund.
n The city will pay $485,640 on the fire station bonds and $288,129 on the ice rink bonds.
n Health insurance costs are expected to increase by $100,000.
The budget was unanimously approved following a public hearing that did not generate any comments or questions. Council will re-convene at noon on April 19 on the second floor of City Hall to lay the levy and officially adopt the budget.
In other action, council gave preliminary approval authorizing Mayor Frank Mullens to receive a permanent easement over vacant property owned by Union Carbide Corp. near the city's wastewater treatment plant.
The property will be part of a beautification project along MacCorkle Avenue. The city is not paying Union Carbide for the easement.
Also at Thursday's meeting, council approved and Mullens proclaimed March as American Red Cross Month and April 5 as National Service Recognition Day.
Marva Crouch, a candidate for Kanawha magistrate, asked citizens to vote for her in the May 10 election. She was a magistrate from 2004 to 2008 and has since been working for the state Supreme Court.
All council members attended Thursday's meeting.
Council's next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. April 7 on the second floor of City Hall on D Street.