The 2019-2020 budget proposal for the town of Norwood recommends the property tax rate remain at 39 cents per $100 valuation.

The proposed budget will be a conservative one, according to interim town administrator Ray Allen, who presented the proposal to the mayor and board of commissioners during a special-called council meeting Wednesday evening.

Allen wrote in a budget letter to the mayor and board of commissioners that due to the significant investments previously made by the town and the decline in fund balances, “the proposed FY 19-20 budget takes a conservative approach with no major initiatives and fewer capital expenditures than in previous years.”

The town’s General Fund totals $2.39 million, which is $390,000 less than the current fiscal year. This includes $680,000 for the administration department, $715,000 for the police department, $215,000 for the street department and $441,000 for the sanitation department.

Powell Funds total $163,000, which includes $125,000 for street paving and resurfacing.

The Enterprise Fund totals $1.72 million, which includes $1 million for field operations, $462,000 for water plant operations and $239,000 for wastewater plant operations.

The projected General Fund revenue, which also totals $2.39 million, includes $1 million in real property taxes, $545,000 in local option sales tax and $165,000 in utility franchise tax.

Residential solid waste fees are projected to be $4 a month while small commercial solid waste fees are $6.25 a month.

There will be a budget workshop on Tuesday and a public hearing about the budget June 17.

In other business:

• The board decided against continuing to pick up driftwood and debris pulled from the lake. The commissioners want to have a meeting with Waste Management about working with the town to pick up debris. The town is working to create a new policy which will be introduced during the June 17 council meeting.

• The board passed a motion to purchase a dog waste container for Darrell Almond Park. Allen also explained that the town will issue a purchase order this week for the new fountain at the park.

• The board passed a motion to approve Appendix 1 of the town’s agreement with Willis Engineers regarding the Norwood Wastewater Treatment Plant renovation. Appendix 1 estimates the cost for Wills Engineer’s services would be $313,000. The total cost of the project is estimated to be around $4.2 million, according to Allen.

• Commissioner Wes Hartsell expressed his desire to continue talking with Duke Energy regarding Lake Tillery. He specifically wants to create a group and meet quarterly with Duke Energy.

The next regular council meeting will be Monday.