The Springfield City Council approved the first reading of the budget for 2008.

General fund revenues are estimated to increase by $8,234 from the current year’s budget from $1,447,996 to $1,456,230. Expenditures from the general fund are estimated to increase by $50,774 from $1,405,456 expenditures for the current year to $1,456,230 in the 2008 budget.

The police department expenses are expected to increase $29,797.61. The largest increases in expenses are for salary increases and for new equipment.

There is also allotted in the budget partial year salary in the event the police department needs to hire an additional officer later through the year.

Councilman Jeff Ambrose told the council he would like to see the police department run at full staff before hiring an additional officer.

“We’ve been in and out of officers,” he said.

Councilman Dennis Webb said there is a high turnover in police departments and there would almost always be an unfilled position.

Mayor Barton Alderman said adding an additional position could allow for the officers to take some of their built up vacation time.

Ambrose believed it would be a year or two before the police department needs a new officer.

Webb said he did not want to see the council kill the idea of hiring a new officer.

“By putting that money in there, you’re not spending a dime,” Webb said. “If it comes to a question of needing to reallocate funds then that’s another question then you don’t fund the position.”

Councilman Charles Hinely asked if adding a new officer would cut overtime enough to make adding a position a better financial option. City Manager Brett Bennett said if the council decided now to hire an additional officer it could take six months to fill the position.

The council decided to fund a position for half the year in the event it is determined an additional officer is needed later in the year.

Bennett said you never know what might happen that would require an additional officer.

The fire department’s expenses are expected to increase $11,299. The largest increase in expenses will be for new equipment including turnout gear, air bottles and a thermal imaging camera.

Fire Chief Edwin Rahn told the council the fire department budgeted to replace some of the older air bottles. He told the council the bottles have a limited life, and many are coming to the end of life.

He also told the council he is looking to purchase a large diameter hose.

Rahn thanked the council for helping to fund the thermal imaging camera and said he is currently looking at a camera for the fire department.

The budget to use Republic waste services is expected to increase from $130,000 in 2007 to $156,000 in 2008.

Expenses in administration are expected to increase $27,731.35. This includes the salary for the new city manager and salary increases for city employees in the administration department.

The streets and lanes budget is expected to decrease from $300,726 in 2007 to $234,877 in 2008. The decrease is largely due to budgeting less for supplies and Laurel Street improvements along with vehicles and equipment that were purchased this year that will not be in the budget for 2008.

The city has budgeted a storm drain project for 2008.

Revenues in the water and sewer department are expected to increase $185,120 from 2007. Budgeted revenues in 2007 were $700,130.

This increase is primarily due to the increase in water rates that took effect in 2007.

Expenses in water and sewer are expected to increase from $818,647.74 in 2007 to $885,250 in 2008.

The largest increase in expenses in the water and sewer department is for new equipment including a dump truck or dumping system, tractor with bush hog and meter reading upgrade.

Special local option sales tax revenues are expected to increase from $401,200 to $432,400.

Projects budgeted for SPLOST include the streetscape project, the Ulmer Park project, building projects, a new police car and the Highway 21 waterline.

The city council will vote to adopt the budget at a special called meeting on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. Copies of the budget are available at city hall.