Budgetary items topped the Town of Franklinton’s regular Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday evening.

Aldermen unanimously adopted the 2014-2015 budget, along with the amended budget for 2013-2014.

“The overall budget for this year is a very good budget,” Mayor Wayne Fleming said. “It’s going to be very tight. We were pleased with last year’s budget. The problem we had with last year’s budget was the center wall of the sewer plant collapsed. That cost us over $400,000. We remodeled the old sewer plant, and if something like that happens again, all we’d have to do is switch off to the old plant, if necessary. We didn’t have that luxury before. We felt it was necessary to have a backup.”

Fleming said it will take some doing to stay under budget next year.

“We’re going to have to be very disciplined,” Fleming sad. “We’ll have to take a close look at it every month to see we’re running on track.”

For the 2014-2015 budget, the General Fund total revenue was $4,203,676, with total expenditures totaling $4,177,097 for an ending fund balance of $798,855.

The largest expenditure in the General Fund was the police department at a cost of $2,106,875. Administration costs were $686,975, while the highway and street department followed at $609,550.

Revenue and expenditures of all funds combined included $7,075,436 in revenue. Expenditures were $7,334,582 for a deficit of $259,146. Beginning fund balance for all funds was $5,324,065, while the deficit for all funds was $259,582, for a surplus of $5,064,919.

The amended 2013-2014 budget includes $3,916,807 in revenue, while total expenditures were $4,021,428. The police department was the biggest expenditure of $2,127,026. Administration costs totaled $704,804. The ending fund balance was $772,276.

Revenue and expenditures of all funds combined were $6,757,812 in revenue and expenditures of $7,271,544, for a deficit of $513,732. Beginning fund balances for all funds were $5,837,797, and the deficit from all funds was $513,732, for a surplus of $5,324,065.

In other business, town water rates and sewer use adjustment ordinances were introduced.

Regarding water rates, residences are charged a $15 flat rate per month, plus $1.50 per 1,000 gallons of water used. Current commercial rates are $18 per month, plus $1.50 per 1,000 gallons of water used.

Proposed rates for residences call for a $16 flat fee, plus $2.75 per 1,000 gallons of water used. Proposed commercial rates call for a $20 flat fee, plus $2.75 per 1,000 gallons of water used.

Current monthly charges for residential sewer use are a flat rate of $15, plus $2.50 per 1,000 gallons of water used. Current commercial rates are $18, plus $2.50 per 1,000 gallons of water used.

Proposed residential sewer use rates are a flat fee of $16, plus $2.75 per 1,000 gallons of water used. Proposed commercial rates climb to a flat rate of $20, plus $2.75 per 1,000 gallons of water used.

A public hearing to discuss both ordinances is scheduled at the next Board of Aldermen meeting on Nov. 18.

Also, the Board of Aldermen accepted the resignation of Public Works employee Curtis Hart. Today is his last day.

Fleming discussed construction of a turn lane at Popeye’s.

“The Department of Transportation Development will construct a turn lane on to Pearl Street. The bridge railing will be moved five feet on one side and six feet on the other to allow us to put the turn lane in.” Fleming said. “That has been a problem child for us for years at that intersection.”

Fleming said construction should begin next week and take three weeks to complete.