By MONROE ROARK
mroark@TheCitizenNews.com

Fayetteville's budget for the 2001 fiscal year appears to be headed for a slight increase over the previous 12 months, after a first reading at Monday night's City Council meeting.

The proposed 2001 budget now stands at $7.1 million. That's a rise of only 1.15 percent from last year's $7.03 million.

One noteworthy amendment in the budget between last Wednesday's City Council workshop and Monday's meeting concerned pay for city employees. The budget now has a provision for a 4.75-percent average pay-for-performance salary plan.

An earlier draft had a 3.5-percent performance-based increase along with 2-percent cost-of-living adjustments. Several council members were not pleased with across-the-board raises in that fashion, and decided to give department heads the flexibility to give raises based strictly on performance.

In other business, the City Council tabled its second reading on proposed amendments to its sign ordinance. This was not a surprise, as it was requested at last week's workshop. A final vote will be taken at the meeting this Monday.

First readings were also conducted for a rezoning request for the Landrum property on Ga. Highway 54 east, as well as a proposed ordinance governing the sale of used vehicles in the city and their display on property other than that belonging to the owner of the vehicle for sale.

A resolution imposing a $1 charge on wireless telecommunications, for the purpose of funding technological updates to the county's 911 equipment, was approved.

Because Monday's meeting was a week later than normal due to the July 4 holiday, the next workshop is only two days later — tonight at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The next regular meeting is July 17.