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CHESTER -- City council approved its 2024 budget Monday night, but the decision wasn't unanimous.
Four of the five council members were in attendance for the 45-minute special meeting, which included the hiring of a full-time patrolman, as well as the budget. Council member Jason Thorn was not present.
After council approved the hiring of David Polgar - who had been working as a part-time officer for the past two years - attention turned to the city's crunched numbers, which included $568,787 for the police department. Polgar will be administered his oath as a full-time patrolman at the council's next regular meeting, which is set for 5 p.m. April 3, in the municipal building by Municipal Judge Curtis Parkins.
Clerk Tara Ayers explained that the $1.4 million estimated expenditures for the fiscal 2023-24 budget included increases in the amount of postage, police training, as the department is hiring several new officers this year, and road equipment.
Revenue sources for the $1,407,081 general fund include $320,000 in business and occupation tax, $320,000 in sales tax, $232,091 in property tax, $146,000 in municipal service fees, $100,000 in utility excise tax and $30,072 in video lottery proceeds. Streets and highways also were allotted $218,264.
Before approving the budget, 3-1, council met in an executive session for a half hour to discuss the matter. Ultimately \Councilman Mike Dotson would vote against it, explaining he "was not comfortable with some of it," not providing any specifics.
According to Ayers, the budget was set to be forwarded to the state Tuesday for approval.