SILVERHILL, Ala. — The town of Silverhill hopes to be back in the black after passing its 2009-10 budget on Monday, which will all but make up for last year’s deficit.

While the town showed a budget deficit of $96,000 in its Utility Fund, surpluses in the town’s General Fund and Special Revenue budgets bring the 2010 budget to a proposed surplus of $91,000.

The town’s 2009 budget featured a nearly $100,000 deficit with expenditures totalling $943,225 and revenues of a projected $845,817, a projected deficit of $97,408.

For 2010 the Utility Fund will operate with projected expenses of $370,253.64 and revenues of $273,683.19 for a budget deficit of $96,570.43. In the General Fund, revenues of $482,529.99 topped expenses of $456,497.79 by a total of $26,032.20. In the Special Revenue budget, which includes the Street Department, Library, Recreation and Fire Department, revenues totalled $189,969.78 with expenses of $40,815.33 for a surplus of $149,154.45.

In total the town will operate with total expenses of $867,566.76 and revenues of $958,667.63 for a surplus of $91,100.87.

The council voted unanimously to pass the budget with all council members present.

In other business, the town conducted a public hearing for two changes to Planning Commission ordinances.

First, the Planning Commission proposed a change in the town’s sign ordinance, which allowed for free standing signs to be from 4 to 10 feet above street level. The proposed change would change the ordinance to read from 4 feet to a maximum of 14 feet above street level.

According to council members, the ordinance applies only to free-standing signs, and not to signs attached to buildings.

The proposed ordinance passed by a vote of 5 to 1 with council member Jared Lyles voting against the measure.

The council passed unanimously a proposal to take out the lot of record ordinance requiring that all lots be a minimum of 50 feet. In the future, all lots that do not meet the 50-foot requirement will have to come before the Planning Commission for approval.

In both cases, town resident Allen Norden made the only public comment, stating in each incidence that he was in favor of the proposed change.

In other business Monday, the council:

— Voted 4-2 to approve a contract with the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Tim Wilson proposed to table the matter after Shirley Stevens asked for a clarification of benefits for the town. Wilson and Stevens both voted against the measure.

— Appointed Mary deLaunay as the town’s representative to the Chamber.

— Voted 5-0 with council member Rodney Criswell abstaining to allow Superintendent of Utilities Steve Williams to spend $1,500 on Christmas ornaments for the town.

— Approved the expenditure of $1,500 to finish improvements to a playground area at Oscar Johnson Park.

— Voted to send Police Officer Terry Fent to a training seminar Oct. 21-23 in Loxley.

— Adjourned to executive session to discuss pending litigation.