JACKSON PROPOSING RECORD BUDGET FOR WATER, SEWER IMPROVEMENTS

JACKSON -- The city of Jackson is proposing a record $18 million budget in the year 2000.

The Jackson Board of Aldermen will hold a special meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday to consider adopting the new budget.

The proposed budget includes $3.6 million in State Revolving Funds to pay for water and sewer improvements, so the actual budget is about $14.6 million.

The water and sewer projects are expected to get under way in earnest next year. "There will be a lot of dust in the air in Jackson," city administrator Steve Wilson said.

The $14.6 million still is about $1 million more than the 1999 budget.

The city proposes to hire another wastewater employee and another power plant operator in 2000. In addition, a grant has been written to add a police officer, possibly two.

The city also wants to increase part-time help at the Jackson public library. Other new costs are an average 3 percent salary increase for city employees in the year 2000 and an increase in the amount paid volunteer firefighters.

"That will keep us from having to put on more full-time people," Wilson said.

In other business Monday night the board:

* Approved 251,000 in engineering design costs to Burns and McDonnell for water bond projects.

* Announced that Girl Scout sales of cookies will begin in the city on Jan. 7.