Fayetteville's

budget for the 2001 fiscal year appears to be

headed for a slight increase over the previous 12

months, after a first reading at Monday night's

City Council meeting.

The

proposed 2001 budget now stands at $7.1 million.

That's a rise of only 1.15 percent from last

year's $7.03 million.

One

noteworthy amendment in the budget between last

Wednesday's City Council workshop and Monday's

meeting concerned pay for city employees. The

budget now has a provision for a 4.75-percent

average pay-for-performance salary plan.

An

earlier draft had a 3.5-percent performance-based

increase along with 2-percent cost-of-living

adjustments. Several council members were not

pleased with across-the-board raises in that

fashion, and decided to give department heads the

flexibility to give raises based strictly on

performance.

In

other business, the City Council tabled its

second reading on proposed amendments to its sign

ordinance. This was not a surprise, as it was

requested at last week's workshop. A final vote

will be taken at the meeting this Monday.

First

readings were also conducted for a rezoning

request for the Landrum property on Ga. Highway

54 east, as well as a proposed ordinance

governing the sale of used vehicles in the city

and their display on property other than that

belonging to the owner of the vehicle for sale.

resolution imposing a $1 charge on wireless

telecommunications, for the purpose of funding

technological updates to the county's 911

equipment, was approved.

Because

Monday's meeting was a week later than normal due

to the July 4 holiday, the next workshop is only

two days later - tonight at 7 p.m. at City

Hall. The next regular meeting is July 17.

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