The Brookhaven Board of Aldermen continued planning Thursday evening for the city’s upcoming budget, which could include an allocation for a fence to be built around Rose Hill Cemetery and much-needed improvements to the city pound.

The city has held multiple work sessions to prepare for the 2015-2016 budget, which must be finalized by Sept. 15 according to state requirements. City officials have a goal to get the budget adopted by Sept. 1, the next regular Board of Aldermen meeting.

An opportunity for the public to voice concerns and talk about the budget will be a public hearing set for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

The city’s general fund budget for the last fiscal year was approximately $12 million, City Clerk Mike Jinks said. Jinks said the budget for the upcoming year, though changes are expected, could be a little less than last year, but still just under $12 million.

If approved, plans would be made to erect a black, vinyl-coated chain-link fence around Rose Hill Cemetery, including up to eight drive-through gates and two walk-in gates. The cost is estimated to be around

$80,000. The current cemetery budget is $20,000.

In other budget planning, the board discussed allocating $20,000 to the animal control budget to repair and improve the city pound according to Brookhaven Animal Rescue League standards. In response to the most recent request and offer of assistance by Lu Becker with BARL, this allocation would allow for much-needed upgrades with volunteer help from BARL. This budget item has not been finalized, though previous discussions in past meetings on this issue have been positive.

Brookhaven Fire Chief Tony Weeks addressed the board with funding requests including an allocation for three additional personnel, including a full-time training officer position. Weeks described the fire rating system benefits, and the current system of training. Weeks cited the need for one person to be over training and having one designated training officer would improve the rating and training systems. His request was for $126,000.

The board discussed this request, eventually deciding to deny the request and keep the budget approximately as is. Mayor Joe Cox and other members noted that Brookhaven wouldn’t be graded again by the Mississippi State Rating Bureau for another three to five years. The board decided it could address the training officer next year as a possibility.