Without debate, Gaffney City Council on Monday passed final reading of a $10.9 million budget that holds the line on taxes and contains no cost-of-living raise for city employees.

The new budget goes into effect July 1.

All the discussion on the budget occurred on first reading when a rancorous council cut a $3,000 travel allowance for Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly. The mayor originally made the request for a $2,800 allowance at a finance committee meeting.

Councilman Wayne Ramsey took the travel cuts a step further by proposing council not pay the $1,600 it will cost to send each councilman to the S.C. Municipal Association summer meeting in Hilton Head.

Both measures passed by a 4-3 vote.

Gaffney Administrator James Taylor has described the budget as "very, very lean."

Taylor also has said he's concerned over the recent rise in fuel costs.

"This budget will require constant and close monitoring," Taylor told council members.

The budget does include some new fees. The city will charge organizations who want to temporarily close a street a fee to offset the city's costs. The city also will stop its practice of waiving permit fees.

Last year, council passed a $10.2 million budget that held the line on taxes.