The Danville City Council meeting set for Tuesday, December 19th is looking to bring about some definite debate to go with the votes on the agenda. As happens every year, the City of Danville’s tax levy is due, by state statute, to be submitted on the last Tuesday of December, which this year is the 26th. And even though Danville’s next fiscal year does not begin until the following May, the Council always aims to pass the new budget at the same time, so the budget and tax levy can be figured together.
This year, however, there is some last minute concern. The City of Danville had brought in an outside firm to compare city salaries with other salaries around the state. Some of Danville’s salaries came in below the median level, and therefore some adjustments have been made to the budget to raise those salaries. But in the eyes of some City Council members, there’s a problem in that the salary comparison info came in late, right about when it was time to approve the budget, and therefore changes may have been rushed. And although Council members have expressed high praise for City Comptroller Ashlyn Massey for her hard work down the stretch, there is still concern that city salaries, and therefore the budget, are being adjusted too much right before the finish line.
Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr says YES, the salary study info did arrive later than expected. AND, he says he does understand that Council members want things done the right way.
AUDIO: We expected that we would have the compensation survey and results back a couple of months sooner. And so, unfortunately, with delays, it just took a little longer than we hoped. People just want to be sure that we’re doing the right thing, more than anything else. They want to make sure that we’re fair and consistent with our employees. I think they just want to be sure that that’s where we wind up, that everyone’s compensated appropriately.
The originally proposed Danville budget was a total of $78.9 million dollars, $66.8 million with fund transfers. Some adjustments in other funds were made to allow for the salary adjustments added in later, as the mayor explains.
AUDIO: The total changes with compensation are about $650,000, across 300 employees. So, when you roll out the math and you see it’s about $2,000 or so on average for an employee. With inflation the way that it is, I think that’s more than reasonable.
And that’s only the first half of the double feature. On December 7th, the Danville Planning and Zoning Commission approved a recommendation to the Council for changing the zoning rules for cannabis dispensaries wanting to come to Danville. Basically, they would be allowed in all B-2 and B-3 zoning areas, and not just the way it is now along the Lynch Road corridor. And even though each and every applicant would need to plead its case and obtain a special use permit, the passion this issue has brought before is sure to bring some interesting conversation. Mayor Williams says, if you have some youngsters wanting to learn about how government works, this is a good meeting to attend.
AUDIO: I am sure it will be a lively discussion. So for those who are interested in city government, I think it would be a good time to come and visit with us.
Tuesday night’s Danville City Council meeting begins at 6 PM.
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