By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó Town officials are looking at the proposed federal economic stimulus program as a potential source of money to redo the town’s public safety building.
Mayor Don Bringle said the stimulus money is aimed at shovel-ready projects, and the revamping of the police and fire department could be ready in short order.
Aldermen briefly discussed the public safety building project Saturday during the board’s annual planning retreat.
While the board didn’t get into numbers, its members got a hard dose of reality for the upcoming budget.
The town’s revenue across the board ó from property and sale taxes as well as water and sewer charges ó is likely to be down.
Bringle said the board’s focus entering the upcoming budget work will be to maintain services and “hopefully maintain staff.”
Aldermen also talked about wages. Bringle said there is little chance of an increase in wages for town employees.
“We will be in a situation that we will have to pull from our fund balance,” Bringle said, going on to question how long the town may have to do that until the economy and revenue improve.
He noted the town is fortunate to have a healthy fund balance, around $1.3 million in undesignated reserves.
The board took no action during the planning retreat at the China Grove Roller Mill Museum. All of the budget issues will be discussed in a series of workshops and meetings, which will likely be held in May and June.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.