Laurinburg City Council said it needs one more meeting on next year's fiscal budget before voting on the plan next week.

The council will meet Friday to hammer out two unresolved issues- salaries and fee schedules.

City council members express some interest in a recommended increase of $20,000 in a salary-line item from last-year's fiscal budget.

Cindy Carpenter, city finance director, told council a large portion of it – around $11,000 – was to compensate Craig Honeycutt for unused vacation time when he left as city manager.

The increase would come from unused funds in a salary line-item from a different department.

Council also wants to discuss further the schedule of fees for the upcoming fiscal year.

Councilman Tommy Parker expressed concern about how some of the tap fees could affect industrial recruitment and proposed the council evaluate a uniform policy of fees for businesses.

Mayor Matthew Block wanted to address the possibility of raising dumpster fees to give more leeway to the Solid Waste Fund since the department is not self-sustaining.

Council has also directed city staff to provide more information on an ordinance that would amend the current fiscal year's budget to account for unanticipated expenditures.

The vote on the budget is expected Tuesday night. The proposal calls for keeping the tax rate at 42 cents.

Also this week, the council appointed Parker to fill a vacancy on the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport Commission, replacing Lucille Bridgeman who decided not to seek reappointment when her term expires June 30.

Parker's appointment came at the request of Councilman Curtis Leak, who said a member of council should serve on the airport board.

"This Laurinburg-Maxton Airport meeting is very important for economic development," Councilman Leak said. "We have not had someone from city council on this board.... Maxton has always had someone at the table"

With the economy and the size of the projects being undertaken by the airport, Leak said the appointment was important.

Rainer agreed, saying "I think it would be an asset to the board."

Parker said he understood the importance of the airport.

"Dr. Block and I, on out trip, realized the importance of $20 million if we got the funding," Parker said.

Still Parker said he had some reservations.

“I would do that on an interim basis… I need to see how it would work with my schedule, which is pretty difficult these days.”

He added that he was interested in serving city’s best interests.

Council did not discuss Mary Jo Bridgeman Adams, who has also been suggested for the position.