The Waleska City Council on Monday night approved its 2008-09 budget and increased water rates and its own compensation.

The budget is decreasing from the current total of $2.5 million. The city expects to bring in $2.2 million in revenues in the coming year and expend $1.6 million of that total.

The budget is based on the current millage rate of 4.269 mills. The millage rate will be set later this year after the city receives the county tax digest.

The council also approved an increase in its water rates. The new rates, which go into effect in August, are rising by $.28 per thousand gallons.

Prior to the increase, the city's water rates were $11.40 for 2,000 gallons or less; $5.20 for each thousand gallons from 2,001 to 20,000 gallons; $4.20 for each thousand from 20,001 to 100,000 gallons; $3.20 for each thousand from 100,001 to 500,000 gallons; and $2.50 for each thousand in excess of 500,001 gallons.

The council voted to raise its own compensation from $50 to $100 per meeting and the mayor's compensation from $75 to $200 per meeting. The council meets twice a month. The increase goes into effect at the beginning of next year.

The pay increase was approved 4-2, with Councilmen Floyd Puckett and Bill Cline opposed.

The council appointed Mayor Marguerite Cline, Councilwoman Edna Cook and residents Melissa Fournier and Jimmy Bell to a committee to review the city's capital needs.

The purchase of new meter reading equipment for $4,000 was approved as was a resolution to continue the existing joint city-county government emergency management plan.

The council also reviewed an outline of services Land and Associates would provide when conducting the city's audit.

The council talked about installing a drive-up drop box at City Hall and purchasing a flag with the city logo on it and reviewed proposals from financial institutions, but took no action on the items so more information could be gathered.

The council also took no action on a proposed resolution authorizing the city to issue food permits for nonprofit organizations.

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