The Town Council went over the $44,807,389 proposed budget for the 2014/2015 fiscal year on Monday evening and will be ready to consider the total as the tentative budget when it meets Thursday, May 1.

Council members debated a proposed 2.5 percent pay raise for employees - not whether the raise is warranted, but how to implement it. Town Manager Ken Buchanan said the raises would be merit increases based on employee evaluations. Some council members believed they should be implemented as across the board cost of living increases.

The council ultimately decided to implement the raises as was done this past fiscal year with 1 percent across the board with an additional 1.5 percent as a merit increase with evaluations.

The budget proposal includes more than $22 million in capital projects, mostly street improvements, and a General Fund budget at $13.7 million - about the same as this past year.

The council meeting on Thursday, May 1, is at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public.