STARKVILLE (AP) — Starkville officials will meet Monday to redraft the city’s budget after Mayor Dan Camp vetoed every department’s requested pay raises.

‘‘We’re putting the top back on the convertible,’’ Camp said.

The Board of Aldermen approved most of the requests last week, hoping to bring salaries in Starkville more in line with other municipal and county governments in the region.

But the spending went ‘‘from the ridiculous to the sublime,’’ said Alderman P.C. McLaurin, adding that the raises could take about $600,000 out of the budget. And that amount could increase even more because Fire Chief Rodger Mann and Chief Administrative Officer Lynn Spruill have yet to propose their salary equity adjustments.

Department heads asked for the raises because they say longtime employees are leaving to find higher paying jobs.

But, McLaurin said, ‘‘Most of the raises that were presented were without any appropriate documentation of the need of equity adjustments.’’

The mayor said the raises were just too much.

‘‘It is my belief that while some of the requested salary increases are warranted, the sum totals of them do not promote fiscal responsibility and do not promote equity internally or externally,’’ he wrote in the official veto order.

Alderman Matt Cox, who voted against the budget, asked the mayor to use his veto power and applauded him for doing so.

‘‘I welcome the opportunity to have a second chance because the board needs to demonstrate leadership in addressing these issues,’’ said Cox.

The city’s new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Camp’s veto included:

—The approval of the 2007-2008 budget.

—Approval of the tax levy which kept the milage rate unchanged from the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

—Approval of salary adjustments for the Starkville Electric Department.

—Approval of salary adjustments for the Office of the City Clerk.

—Approval of salary adjustments for the Sanitation Department.

—Approval of salary adjustments for the Police Department including the $4,000 across the board increase or the closest grade and step.

—Approval of salary adjustments for the Building Department.

—Approval of salary increases for Municipal Court employees.

—Approval of a salary increase for Administrative Assistant Tammy Tyndall.

—Approval of other salary adjustments in various departments.

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Information from: Starkville Daily News, http://www.starkviledailynews.com



AP-CS-09-23-07 1408EDT