The Butler Redevelopment Authority on Thursday approved a balanced $147,930 budget that includes pay raises for both employees.

The 2020 budget includes 5 percent pay raises for Veronica Walker, acting executive director and operations manager, and Art Cordwell, rehabilitation inspector.

Authority board member Brian McCafferty said the raises have a minimal impact on the budget.

Employees hadn't received raises for five years before receiving 3 percent pay raises in 2019, he said.

The authority ended last year with expenses 7 percent under budget. McCafferty said last year's budget was conservative.

The $131,330 preliminary budget approved last month included 3 percent raises for both employees.

Personnel costs are $113,301 in the 2020 budget.

A 5 percent, or $7,044, contingency fund was added to the final 2020 budget.

In other business, the authority hired certified public accountant Mark Turnley for $4,800 to conduct the 2019 financial audit.

Walker said Turnley agreed to perform the audit at the same cost he has charged the past two years under a contract with the authority. She said the third year was optional under the contract.

The authority will eventually advertise for auditing services for 2020 and 2021 with an option for 2022, Walker said.

In addition, the board voted to continue holding its public meetings at 2 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month.