Despite a “tough” fiscal year — and another one anticipated — the City of Brewton would give employees a 2.5 percent raise beginning Oct. 1, if a budget proposed by Mayor Ted Jennings is approved later this month.

The raise and a 9 percent increase in health insurance premiums mark the major changes in the next year’s budget, Jennings said.

“This has been an extremely tough year for government, individuals and businesses,” he said.

Last year, the city had said it would give a 2.5 percent raise to employees if revenues allowed it, but the raise never happened.

State law requires mayors to prepare a balanced budget, which can be approved or changed by the city council.

Jennings and the city budget committee projected a modest increase in sales tax revenue — $10,000 — as well as a $40,000 increase in business license fees.

Jennings also detailed several of the projects the city has completed in the past year — as well as projects that will be coming up.

Projects completed or nearly complete include improvements to City Park, the new splashpad, new hangars at the airport and a boardwalk connecting Burnt Corn Creek Park and O’Bannon Park.

Projects upcoming in the new fiscal year include the renovation at Alco Park, paid for by donations raised by Leadership Brewton, a sidewalk project, a fuel farm at the Brewton Municipal Airport, a turn lane on U.S. 31 near the new middle school, a railraod crossing light at the Deer Street railroad crossing downtown and a drainage project at T.R. Miller Mill.

Many of those projects have been paid for all or partially by grants, Jennings said.