DAPHNE, Ala.—Mayor Fred Small is pushing the city of Daphne to have less budget amendments and tighter spending as the 2010-2011 fiscal year begins.

“Unless it’s a dying need, I think it’s time to say ‘No,’” Small said at the Oct. 11 finance meeting. “We need to have less budget amendments.”

Small said he wants the council to budget a little higher in each area to prepare for emergencies, but if something comes to discussion and cannot fit in the budget, “oh well.”

Councilman Derek Boulware said he thinks it’s impossible to not have budget amendments.

“Appropriations almost can’t be avoided throughout the year,” Boulware said. “It’s an act of God. You can’t budget for that type of stuff.”

Boulware contended the city should avoid taking money from reserves as much as possible.

“We’re not being responsible to future councils and the future of this town,” he said.

The discussion about budget amendments began when the finance committee was discussing recommending acceptance of the bid from M.C. Williams for the road project at Whispering Pines Road from U.S. Highway 98 to Pollard Road. The finance committee recommended the council approve the bid at more than $363,000.

The council passed an ordinance last year that requires the city to take $500,000 from the general revenue every year and set aside for capital road improvement projects, City Clerk David Cohen said, and Small said he thinks it will create problems.

“Say, for instance, we cut recycling to pay for it,” Small said. “What do we do next year when the issue comes up?”

In other news, the finance committee recommended the council: