By Brady Extin | For The Times-Post
PENDLETON — Pendleton Town Council approved the town’s 2025 budget, among other things, at its October meeting.
After a public hearing and first read in September, on Oct. 10, the council voted unanimously to approve a budget of $11,982,372 for 2025.
The Special Fire Protection Territory General Fund makes up more than half the budget at $6,013,956.
Following that are the General Fund ($2,987,053), Park Fund ($1,221,850), Local Income Tax Fund ($1,135,820), Motor Vehicle Highway Fund ($607,206), and Special Fire Protection Territory Equipment Replacement Fund ($317,329).
A few other funds fall below $250,000 for the year including the Cumulative Capital Development Fund, a pair of park bond funds, and the Local Road and Street Fund.
The property tax levy introduced to go along with the 2024 budget totals $8,949,424. The town also gets revenue from its water and electric utilities, as well as federal, state and local grants.
Along with the budget, the council approved the 2025 wage and salary ordinance for the town.
Town council compensation saw no increase: the council president will receive $7,500 per year, the vice president $6,500 and all other council members $6,000.
With increases, the town manager will now be paid $4,196 per bi-weekly pay. The town’s clerk-treasurer has a salary of $47,500 per year.
Other town positions, such as those in the planning department, utility office, electric department, water department, street department and stormwater department were approved in the ordinance as well.
In each category the highest wages are planning director ($3,818 per pay), utility office staff and police department office manager ($30.84 per hour), electric department superintendent ($53.32 per hour), water department superintendent ($36.34 per hour), street department superintendent ($33.24 per hour) and stormwater department superintendent ($32.95 per hour). In the police department, wages are as follows: Chief ($4,100.51 per pay), captain ($3,836.54 per pay), sergeant ($3,158.46 per pay) and patrol officer ($2,828.11 per pay).
In other news, the town went through a first read to amend the speed limit in the Foster Branch Ridge neighborhood.
The following streets – Foster Branch Drive, Foster Branch Court, Lakeview Court, Fountain Court, Foster Ridge Lane and Foster Ridge Court – will have the speed limit lowered to 25 mph, while CR 600 West will be lowered to 35 mph.
The reason for lowering the speed limit comes from resident concerns about increased traffic in the area due to impending construction.
Since the speed limits are staying above 20 mph, the town has jurisdiction to lower speeds without a traffic study.
The council delayed the second read until the November meeting to allow the town time to prepare new speed limit signs.
The town department reports went as follows:
Police Department
• The department was presented with a $5,000 check at the Sons of AMVETS car show to purchase new rifles. Police Chief Marc Farrer said the money will be used to upgrade the department’s patrol rifles to include shorter barrels and suppressors.
Park Department
• Bridge repair was completed on the walking bridge on the lower trail behind the town cemetery.
• The park department is looking at options to rehabilitate/upgrade Alvin D. Brown Memorial Swimming Pool. It plans to review results of a study, have internal discussions and bring ideas to a future council meeting.
Town Manager
• The town’s cemetery paving project is complete. During the winter, the plan is to grade the road with dirt or stone to eliminate any drop-off from the new road surface.
