Franklin budget plan includes pay raises, more staff

Franklin city employees are expected to get raises in the proposed 2013 budget, and four full-time positions would be created, including a police officer.

The proposed 2013 Franklin city budget would spend less overall compared with this year, due to drops in spending from the city’s savings and disaster relief funds. But more money is being spent from the city’s general fund, which uses money collected from property taxes to pay for the fire, police and other city departments’ budgets, according to the clerk-treasurer’s office.

Mayor Joe McGuinness has recommended that each department give their employees 2 percent raises and increase the money they budget for utilities by 7.5 percent. The proposed budget also includes more money for health insurance costs, expected to increase next year.

McGuinness said the goal when creating the budget was to save money and not spend more than the city takes in.

“Traditionally, departments do a good job of coming in under budget. It’s always your goal to have a surplus, so if you have any emergencies, like if a road fails and you have to address it immediately, you have money to do that,” he said.

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