BPW gives 4 percent raise to its employees
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writer larry@gaffneyledger.com

The Gaffney Board of Public Works commissioners gave tentative approval Sunday to a new spending plan that holds the line on rates and gives employees more money in their pockets.

BPW General Manager Donnie Hardin said the commissioners discussed his proposed budget at their long-range planning workshop, but made no major changes.

The new budget will include a 4 percent cost-of-living raise for employees.

The commissioners are expected to officially approve the utility's 2008-'09 budget at their March meeting.

In the proposed budget, the utility will absorb a 2.2 percent increase in wholesale electrical costs and focus on less-costly distribution maintenance rather than expensive plant upgrades.

In 2007, commissioners approved for the first time in seven years a rate hike that included a flat $1 per month increase per utility for residential customers and a straight 3 percent increase in sewer, electric and water rates for commercial and industrial customers.

The utility's new budget takes effect April 1.