Century Expected To Approve 51%, $1.7 Million Budget Increase

September 19, 2011

The Town of Century is expected to give final approval tonight to a $5 million 2011-2012 budget that is up almost $1.7 million from last year — thanks to $1.9 million in grants.

The $5,032,816 budget includes grant income and expenditures of $1,913,000. The grant funds are from state and federal sources — not local revenue or taxes.

“It’s money in and money out,” Mayor Freddie McCall said of the budget increase for the grants. “If we did not have the grants in there we would be less than the previous year’s budget,” Robert Hudson, the town’s accountant, added.

The $1.9 million in grants included in the budget are:

  • CDBG Housing Grant, $650,000
  • Energy Grant, $100,000
  • Residential Construction Mitigation Program Grant, $100,000
  • FEMA Hazard Grant, $823,000
  • Housing Preservation Grant, $50,000
  • Sewer Filter Grant, $190,000

There will be no increase in ad valorem taxes this year to meet the budget for fiscal year 2011-2012, which begins October 1.

The Century Town Council is expected to give final approval to the new budget at their meeting at 7 p.m. at the Century Town Hall. A public hearing is scheduled for immediately prior to the budget adoption vote.

To view a summary of the budget in pdf format, click here or the image below.

Pictured: Century council member Sandra McMurray Jackson reviews the town’s 2011-2012 budget during a special hearing earlier this month. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “Century Expected To Approve 51%, $1.7 Million Budget Increase”

  1. 429SCJ on September 19th, 2011 10:10 am

    I would rather see federal money wasted in Century, than some third world hole. I should not concern myself with all this, as I am not a Century resident. You people made it this far somehow, I guess you will make it on down the road. Good luck, you are going to need it.

  2. Oversight on September 19th, 2011 9:16 am

    IRT “just listeningand good”

    Century is feeding at the federal public trough and to rely on these federal handouts year after year to fund the town is only a set up for future failure. McCall said it, “…money in and money out…” and it’s all good till it’s gone. As for getting a traffic cop, Century couldn’t afford the insurance or other costs associated with running a police department. The town only collects $30k from property taxes which wouldn’t even pay for one full time meter reader much less pay a single police officer. Maybe a red light camera is in order for the town’s only controlled intersection at the “Boulevard” and State Road 4; yea that’s it – instant money for the coffers!!! Besides, remember back in the day when there was a police department in Century; it was shut down for ineptness and corruption.

  3. c.w. on September 19th, 2011 9:11 am

    Just where do you think grant money comes from?

    It makes no difference wheather it city, county, state, or federal, grants are tax dollars paid by us. Every grant means that you will be taxed more to support them.

  4. just listeningand good at it on September 19th, 2011 8:10 am

    to 429scj and oversight—-If Century does not get the money then someone else will. Go for the gusto Century Mayor McCall and town council.
    The only thing Century needs to do is hire one traffic control cop only to catch speeders and have the Mayor hold Kangaroo court every two weeks to collect fines and the town could more than double the budget income just on speeders from Century Blvd, Old Flomaton road and all the streets in old downtown Century as no one drives the speed limits in Century. This is something the town needs to look into. Keep the county involved for all other problems as they make plenty of money otherwise that Century gets none of.

  5. 429SCJ on September 19th, 2011 6:21 am

    If the citizens of Century were outraged by the $750K Grant for home repair, then the $1.9 Million Mayor McCall accepted to operate the city, shoud start riots in the street. Pride is good to a point, but moderate it with common sense.

  6. Oversight on September 19th, 2011 6:05 am

    And here’s solid proof of why the federal government nearing the disaster of bankruptcy. Poor Century is going to ride that Obama spending train right up to the point that it de-rails, but at least the town can say that it has gotten more than its fair share of government cheese.