Roanoke Rapids council member Suetta Scarbrough says she wants to see longevity pay for employees put back in the budget proposed for the upcoming fiscal year.

“I don’t want longevity pay cut for anybody,” she said during council’s budget work session today.

Councilman Ernest Bobbitt, who said the same thing last week, responded, “I agree 100 percent.”

The proposed financial plan recommends no longevity pay for a year, which will save the city around $115,000.

“It seems like we could trim from somewhere else without cutting any people,” Scarbrough said.

Mayor Emery Doughtie said council should wait until it hears from all department heads before making a decision.

“It’s important we make wise fiscal decisions,” Councilman Ed Liverman said. “When we do something of that nature, sometimes we really put ourselves in that position whether it’s buying extra police cars or increasing health insurance.”

Council member Carl Ferebee agreed with Doughtie, saying the council needed to continue looking at the budget before making a decision.

“It gets to the point,” Doughtie said, “where you have it as tight as you can get it.”

Highlights of the proposed $14,341,526 financial plan include:

$1,163,818 needed to present a balanced budget, which was accomplished through reductions in expenditures and increasing revenues.

The tax rate of 62.4 cents per $100 of valuation will not increase.

The budget is based on taxable property value of $1,084,022,466.

The summary says the solid waste user fee of $188.59 remains the same.

The proposed budget includes $200,000 for installment financing and $237,327 for Powell Bill reserve.

It includes $264,716 for theater reserve.

No cost of living or merit increases for employees.

No funding for employee longevity pay.

No funds for the police chief’s position. The line item notes the position will be frozen for a year.

No funds for a vacant position in the planning department.

Other expenditures include:

Debt service of $604,177 and $1,774,578 for payments on the 2007 series bonds.

$30,000 for demolition of dilapidated houses.

Contract employee for a police department evidence clerk at $25,000.

A part time grant writer at $25,000.

$20,000 for developing a comprehensive plan.

$1,153,037 for street improvements and Powell Bill.

Matching grant for senior center general purpose grant, outreach grant and transportation grant.

Funds for police separation allowance, retirement, police 401-K, non-police 401-K, educational bonus for police and fire and retiree health insurance.