Quitman board approves amended budget, earmarks raises for public works and police

The Quitman board approved an amended budget that officials said cleans up legacy line items and leaves the town about $144,000 ahead for the fiscal year. Staff explained several one-time costs this year (an extra audit and previous-year corrections) will not recur, and the amended figures create room in street/parks and police budgets for modest raises.

Board members discussed pay adjustments and directed staff to prepare specific proposals: roughly a $2-per-hour increase for parks and street employees by reallocating the outgoing employee’s salary, and pay adjustments for police officers to match neighboring departments. The board approved the amended budget; further detail and formal salary schedules will be reviewed at the next meeting.