Brewton’s proposed budget includes a raise for city employees and projections for minimal growth in sales taxes — but no expenses are allocated for the city’s pool at Dogwood Hills.

But Mayor Ted Jennings said the city will not make a decision about whether to close the pool until sometime after January, when the city will likely form a committee to study the issue. The pool, which is open in the summer, will probably require some costly repairs.

“We’re going to have to make some decisions,” he said.

Last year the city budgeted for $12,000 in repairs and upkeep for the pool and only $2,500 in revenue from admission.

The city could opt to focus on the splashpad instead of the pool, Jennings said.

The mayor presented the city’s budget — which the city finance committee has been working on for months — to council members Tuesday. The council is expected to vote on the proposal at its next meeting.

Jennings also reviewed the city’s projects from the past year, including the $1.4 million sewer project on Belleville Avenue, a new fuel farm at the Brewton Municipal Airport, and a joint project to improve drainage near T.R. Miller Mill.

Despite those projects — many of which were funded by grants and other sources — the city struggled with the economy as many others have.

“It was really a tough year for the city financially, and I think this year will be a hard year,” Jennings said.

The proposed budget includes a 2.5 percent raise for employees and a 2 percent increase in the city’s contribution to employee retirement funds by Jan. 1.

Overall, the increase in spending is $238,000, the bulk of which comes from salaries and benefit increases.

“We expect to accomplish a lot this year,” Jennings said of the new fiscal year.

“We will stay lean but accomplish our projects as funds are available.”