This year, Gaffney City Council will become more miserly when it comes to spending money on its annual workshop.

Council members voted Monday to spend about $1,000 to hold its 2-day workshop at Limestone College's Stephenson Dining Hall. The bill includes a $50 flat fee for the space and about $900 to feed approximately 20 people. The meals include two breakfasts, a pair of lunches and snacks.

By contrast, council ran up a tab of more than $7,000 for its workshop last year at the Greenville Hyatt. The cost per lunch was a pricey $26.95, while the hotel charged each city official $14.95 for a buffet breakfast.

Councilman Boone Peeler, who along with Dennis Ramsey voted against the motion to hold the workshop at Limestone College because of cost concerns, said the city could save even more cash by foregoing the catered meals.

Mayor Henry Jolly countered that argument by saying the featured guests at the workshop would expect a catered meal.

The workshop is scheduled for March 19-20.

The Gaffney Board of Public Works plans to travel to Charlotte for its annual long-range planning workshop. The workshop is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 28 through March 1 at a place known as "The Duke House," located on the Duke Energy Foundation property. The utility typically spends about $4,000-$5,000 at the workshop.

"I'm a firm believer that you have to get away from distractions to get things accomplished," Board of Public Works General Manager Donnie Hardin said.