DAPHNE, Ala. —A motion to accept a city budget failed to carry in a 6-1 vote at the City Council meeting Monday—a measure that did not go uncriticized.

“This is a city without a budget,” Councilman Ron Scott said. “We’re not allowed to pay any employees and we’re not allowed to pay any bills.”

Actually, City Clerk David Cohen said, “We’re not required by law to have a budget.” However, municipilities that have a budget, he said, must have a 10 percent reserve.

City government does not stop because there isn’t a budget, Cohen said; city employees will be paid, as will the city’s expenses.

The ordinance, if approved, would have given the council authority to release money to the treasurer to pay bills; fiscal year ’09 began Oct. 1.

Departmental operations will continue under the authority of the 2008 budget until the 2009 budget has been adopted.

Council members Bailey Yelding, Cathy Barnette, John Lake, Greg Burnam, Eric Nager and Ron Scott voted in favor of the motion; Councilman August Palumbo cast the lone dissenting vote.

An ordinance to adopt the 2009 budget will come up again on the next City Council agenda, according to Cohen.

In other business:

Mayor Fred Small declared Oct. 5–11 “Fire Prevention Week.”

Small awarded the Rev. Jim Fillingim a certificate of appreciation for enhancing Daphne residents’ quality of life and having a positive impact on others.

“If you don’t know this guy, get to know him,” Small said. “He’s a great guy.”

City leaders unanimously awarded a bid to Nextel-Sprint to supply cellular telephone service to the city’s nine departments.

The Apollo’s Mystic Ladies Mardi Gras organization was awarded a parade permit for Feb. 13, 2009.