Tax rates the same in new city budget

The proposed 2009-10 budget lists revenue of $12,041,519 and expenses of $12,093,178, with a deficit of $51,659. Without comment, councilmen Al Stephenson and Lee Roy Cunningham voted against the measure.

The budget for the next fiscal year contain no increases in either tax rates or pay raises and contains a much lower deficit than the previous year's numbers compared to the budgeted deficit of fiscal year 2008-09 that totalled $565,827.

The deficit represents 0.4 percent of the 2009-10 budget.

The council also voted Thursday to clarify the voting language in the city charter with regard to a majority of those council members present on voting to include the election of members of the Shelbyville Power, Water and Sewer Board.

Last year, the city received an opinion from the state attorney general that says the mayor can veto the council's choice for power board appointments.

The council sought the opinion of the attorney general in June of 2007, after controversy arose over an appointment they made in May 2007 when councilman (and now mayor) Wallace Cartwright refused to vote on appointing a member to the board, citing actions taken in past years.

City Attorney Ginger Shofner also looked at the matter and said that four votes were needed for a majority vote, based on City Charter Article III, Section 14. She said she did not believe four votes are always required to elect a power board member, but "it will depend on how many council members are present at the meeting."

Shofner also said at the time that she believed the mayor does not have the right to vote for a power board member.

But according to the opinion of Attorney General Robert E. Cooper Jr., "appointment of a new Board member requires an affirmative vote by the Mayor and the affirmative vote of four Council members. Therefore, a total of five votes -- that of the Mayor and four Council members -- is necessary to appoint a new member."

Other items addressed by the council were:

* Passed on second reading was an ordinance to adopt the 2009 International Building Codes, excluding sections of the code referring to the requirement of sprinkler systems in single family dwellings and duplexes. It also excludes a fire code whose update has not been completed yet.

* Amended a section of the city code on second reading that changes street cutting requirement procedures.

* The council also approved first reading of a proposed expansion of the Belmont Avenue Historic District. Homes at 502, 511, 513, 517, 602, 607, 708 and 709 Belmont Ave. will be added to the historic district at the request of the residents. The Shelbyville Historic Zoning Commission recommended and approved the request in April.

* The council also approved renewing its employee insurance contract with Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

The total premium is increasing by 9.9 percent, according to insurance agent Wendell Agnew, who said that figure is less than the original double-digit proposal.

* Bids were also requested for the city's annual audit.

* Mayor Wallace Cartwright made two appointments to the Argie Cooper Library Board -- Helen Garner was reappointed to her seat and Kay Rose was selected to take the seat of Randy Vernon, who resigned.