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Public gets look at city budget tonight
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The city will hold a required public hearing on the proposed 2009-2010 budget at its meeting tonight.

The meeting will happen in the city council chambers, located in the municipal building, at 7 p.m.

The upcoming budget has seen a number of cuts, including cutting the general fund from $7.9 million to 7.8 million with a contingency fund of over half a million dollars.

The budget cuts aren't expected to affect residents as much as employees. Some benefits, like a city-sponsored weight watchers program and training budgets, have been cut from the budget.

Council also declined to give city employees a cost-of-living increase or merit pay for the upcoming year.

Two services will be discontinued in the upcoming year.

City employees will no longer plant trees in the yards of residents. Council left open the possibility of distributing trees on a specified day, which would cut out the labor costs to the city.

The city will also not maintain or replace trees along the city's roadways. City staff did tell council that this could create liability issues as trees could potentially damage property or injure passers-by if not maintained.

Despite the cut in budget, the city will keep its current 42-cent tax rate.

The hearing comes after four separate city budget meetings in the past month.

The city will also rehear the case of a Laurinburg woman who wants to run a kennel out of her home.

An ordinance council passed at its May meeting that would allow Barbara Cluck to operate a kennel at her residence by a conditional use permit was found to be invalid.

Charles Hicks, assistant city attorney, brought to the attention of city staff a provision in the General Statutes that requires an ordinance to be passed by a two-thirds majority.

The measure only garnered a simple majority of 3-2, with Mayor Matthew Block casting the tie-breaking vote. For the ordinance to become law, it will require a 4-1 vote in favor of the proposal.

City council will also take on the task of naming a replacement for Lucile Bridgeman on the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport Commission.

Mary Jo Bridgeman Adams, a former principal with the Scotland County Schools, is the lone applicant to fill the position.

In her application, Adams says she is interested in serving on the commission because "the airport is vital to economic development and the future of Laurinburg and Scotland County. I feel that I have the time and ability to be a part of the team that helps to develop and promote the airport at this important time in the history of the airport."
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