Century Holds Budget Meeting; Talks Employee Raises, Department Needs

August 9, 2023

The Century Town Council held their first budget workshop Tuesday evening to plan their spending for the next fiscal year.

Employee expenses — salaries and benefits like health insurance — make up the largest single chunk of the budget. The town doesn’t know what health insurance will cost, but they will know soon from their insurance agent. The town is looking at mandated raises for any impacted employees as the minimum wage in Florida rises to $12 an hour on September 30.

Cost of living raises are also proposed for employees. Council president Luis Gomez, Jr. said the town should consider proactively making new hires as at least three current employees are over age 60 and could retire at any time.

Department heads have also submitted their proposals for departments including streets, water, gas and administration.

The council plans to hold a workshop in two weeks to review a draft budget before they begin the final approval and tax rate process.

The town’s new fiscal year begins on October 1.

Council members Alicia Johnson and Dynette Lewis did not attend Tuesday’s workshop meeting, while Gomez, Shelisa Abraham and Sandra McMurray-Jackson were present. Accountant Robert Hudson and Mayor Ben Boutwell participated by phone.

NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

9 Responses to “Century Holds Budget Meeting; Talks Employee Raises, Department Needs”

  1. OhYouKnow on August 10th, 2023 7:08 am

    Century the home town of Florida man!!!!

  2. J on August 9th, 2023 2:26 pm

    Pay raise for what? What exactly do they do in that town to deserve one.

  3. just a fact on August 9th, 2023 12:25 pm

    @JJ Thanks for the laugh. good one.

  4. Eatin alive in gobbler rd on August 9th, 2023 10:43 am

    How bout spraying the out of control mosquitoes like at least once before everyone is ate alive!!!!

  5. JJ on August 9th, 2023 10:10 am

    looks like playing poker with the towns money

  6. bob on August 9th, 2023 9:37 am

    Town of Century,

    Do not let your health insurance lapse because you might have lead poison.

    Can you budget for a new employee? The only responsibility of the new employee is to post the date, day, time and location of all future council meetings.

    The job title can be “Town of Century Public Relations Representative”.

  7. tg on August 9th, 2023 8:22 am

    Me thinks SW has the right idea.

  8. Oversight on August 9th, 2023 8:00 am

    I read somewhere if a local governmental entity takes state grant money from Florida, it must pay employees $15/hr minimum.

  9. SW on August 9th, 2023 6:09 am

    Might need to budget some money for compliance-you know, like water testing and stuff.

    Why not budget money to have a special election to see if citizens want to shut the failed little town down?