The City of Baldwin approved its budget for fiscal year 2025 which included a salary increase for Chief Administrative Officer Emily Woodmaster.
The budget was approved 3-2 with council members Joseph Satterfield and Maarten Venter voting no. This came after lengthy discussion of the millage rate increase that will come with the passage of the budget.
“1.1 mills, yeah it's a bitter pill to swallow. But the biggest increase that you’re going to experience is in the assessed values of your properties. That’s where it hurts every time,” said Maarten Venter. He added that the growth set to come with the inland port in 2026 might be able to prevent future increases. “I’m hopeful that we can get enough businesses into Baldwin to where we can offset some of this.”
Baldwin resident Cindy Lifsey said from the crowd, “There’s got to be something that can be cut out of this budget.”
“Government needs to be responsible to its citizens, not to itself,” said Lifsey, adding later. “We’re paying out the ears for our taxes right now, and government’s just sucking it all in.”
Councilmember Alice Venter said to Lifsey, “This chair right here is yours. This microphone’s yours. That podium is yours. This whole building is yours. So you guys have elected people to maintain that and to figure out how to run it the best way.”
“You have not told us what we need to cut. You can’t come to us and say ‘We don’t like this.’ But you got no suggestions,” Alice Venter said.
Council said it cut all new proposed positions for FY 2025, something Baldwin Police Chief Chris Jones said the department needs, but was willing to hold back on this year to lower the millage rate.
Included in the budget was a 10 percent salary increase for the Chief Administrative Officer position, currently held by Emily Woodmaster. This also included a 2.5 percent cost of living adjustment and $6,000 paid time off supplement. All salaried city employees will receive a supplement based on their wage, as they will no longer be able to accrue PTO and now have an allotted number of vacation days. This brings Woodmaster’s salary from $104,400 to $123,410.
The CAO salary was approved 4-1 with Satterfield dissenting.
In other business, council:
- Approved FY 2025 appointments which include city attorney, city auditor, city clerk, city engineer, city judge, city solicitor and mayor pro tem, who serves as acting mayor in case of the mayor’s absence. There were no changes to any of the positions with Alice Venter remaining mayor pro tem.
- Approved a resolution the Banks County Hazard Mitigation Plan to help aid the city in case of natural disasters and emergency situations.
- Approved a resolution for a special election for the post 2 seat on city council to be held coinciding with the Nov. 5 presidential election.
- Made a motion to consider and approve the updated personnel policy manual to its July 15 regular meeting.