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By JOYANNA LOVE/ Managing Editor

The Maplesville Town Council recently approved the budget for the 2021 fiscal year.

The budget anticipates $1,346,605 in revenue with the largest amount coming from city sales tax at $490,000.

Budgeted expenses total to $1,345,380.

Town Clerk Dawn Smitherman said the budget includes transfers from the general fund ($100,000), garbage account ($50,000), Alabama Trust Fund ($10,000) and the alcohol account ($10,000.) Funds from the Alabama Trust fund can only be used for capital improvements. The town will also transfer $22,000 from the tip fund “to pay for the 911 radios for the police,” Smitherman said.

The two largest expenses are the general and administrative budget at $453,850 (an increase from $441,450 last year) and the Police Department at $414,300. The budget for the police department was increased $2,000 for the 2021 fiscal year.

The road building expenses are budgeted at $313,500.

Funding for the fire department has been increased to $61,100 (from $40,500 last fiscal year). The fire department is funded through a forestry grant, special ad valorem for rescue and 1/3 ad valorem fire.

The Council also increased the economic development budget from $2,000 to $4,500. The budget for building repairs was decreased to $10,000.

This budget also includes additional funding for E911. This has increased for each contributing partner in order to create an emergency radio communications system for first responders throughout the county.