Hopkinsville City Council heard good news about payroll tax collections halfway through the fiscal year at its meeting Tuesday night.

With sirens of fire truck and police cars responding to accidents heard in the background throughout the 45 minute session, council plowed through a routine agenda.

Finance Director Robert Martin told Council the payroll tax collections are 354-thousand dollars ahead of last year’s pace after six months.

Property tax collections are about 165-thousand dollars ahead of last year’s pace and the city’s overall cash balance is almost 8.8 million dollars—a little less than a month ago but over 800-thousand more than one year ago.

In other action Mayor Dan Kemp appointed Councilman Don Ahart to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem this calendar year.

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01/16/2013/am