Two dates for items concerning the 2024-25 city of Alba budget were scheduled by the city council Monday.

The council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26 to propose the property tax rate. City Secretary Lindy McCarty said the proposed rate is 79.4 cents per $100 valuation, which is up slightly from last year’s 77.53 cents and will raise $280,096 in revenue.

The council will also hold a workshop that night to wrap up changes to the personnel policy.

Then the council will meet Sept. 16 to adopt the tax rate and the new budget.

Another budget workshop is planned next Monday to finalize personnel costs and look at ways to trim a projected $27,000 deficit.

The council heard a proposal from Curtis Harris who is gathering information about a possible housing subdivision on his 5.5-acre property near the water tower.

Harris said he is looking at small homes that will be affordable.

The area is zoned commercial and would need to be rezoned for residential.

He plans to return for the Sept. 3 council meeting with more details.

The council discussed what form the relationship between the city and the Alba Economic Development Corp. will take concerning the operation of the civic center.

Plans are for the EDC to operate the center once renovations can be completed.

At issue was whether the city should lease the facility to the EDC or actually deed its ownership.

The center was recently turned over to the city after being operated by the women’s club for many years.

Ordinances involving manufactured homes and recreational vehicles were reviewed.

The RV ordinance does not allow them to be occupied for more than 30 days in a 12-month period.

Persons who are living in RVs can be cited by police for violating the ordinance.

The city does not have a zone designated for manufactured housing, although it was noted that HUD-approved homes cannot be restricted.

Continued discussion concerning the city’s garbage contractor included how to address Live Oak’s refusal to provide portable toilets for city events as provided in the prior contract with AmeriTex, which Live Oak bought out.

Also the proposed rate increase is capped at the lower of the Consumer Price Index or 5%, which City Attorney Leigh Thompson said would be no more than 3.25%.

Council members also expressed continued concern for problems with the company’s services.