WARNER ROBINS – The City Council, in a special meeting Thursday, talked about adding jobs to the Police Department and Animal Control division.

One more public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Monday during the regular council meeting. The budget must gain final approval by July 1, the start of the fiscal year, said Bill Harte, chief financial officer for the city.

The new budget, at $34.6 million in the general fund, is lower than last year’s $34.9 million. The budget keeps the current millage rate of 9.247 mills, no layoffs or furloughs for city employees, but with no pay raises or cost-of-living adjustments. Mayor Chuck Shaheen opened the meeting by saying nine jobs have opened up, and the city “wants to put some people to work.”

Capt. Brenda Parks-Mathern requested an additional $12,000 for a part-time position in the animal control department, noting that the position had been approved by council but not the funding.

Harte replied that occasionally happens, but added there were excess funds in the budget to handle that, and that he would make adjustments.

Maj. John Wagner and Capt. Lisa Angell said another person for a desk job answering phones would help put another officer on the streets.

“It’s a critical position,” Wagner said.

Angell said a part-time worker went to full-time status in mid-May but had to go back to part-time the following day because positions had been frozen.

“It does have an impact like a domino effect,” Angell said after the meeting. “I’m just trying to work within the numbers.”

Council member Mike Daley said he had received calls about reports the mayor’s travel budget has gone from $1,000 to $23,000, and he told callers the Georgia-Robins Aerospace Maintenance Project would possibly require a lot more travel for the mayor’s office.

Harte said he had budgeted an amount asked for by Shaheen.