By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorWright City spent $234,829 less than what was anticipated in 2014, though a few areas did finish the year slightly above projections.Expenditures for the year decreased to $2,914,828 from the original budget estimate of $3,149,657. Aldermen unanimously approved amending the 2014 budget at the Dec. 29 meeting.The budget amendment did not include any adjustment for city revenues. The budget year ended Dec. 31.The biggest increase in expenses occurred with the housing of prisoners at the Warren County Jail. Karen Girondo, city treasurer/economic development director, said $10,000 had been allocated to cover the board bills, but the city spent around $20,000.The city’s expense for streetlights also went up significantly, from $1,000 to $12,700. That was mostly due to new lights being installed on the service roads and Indian Head Lodge Road.The municipal court fund also increased from $70,947 to $78,450, most of which was due to moving the monthly court hearings to the Wil Heiliger Activity Building at Diekroeger Park.Other areas where expenditures rose were in the police department for adding a school resource officer, park fund for additional personnel and the cemetery fund to cover trees and additional burial costs.2015 calendar approvalAlso at the Dec. 29 meeting, the 2015 city calendar was unanimously approved by the board. The board of aldermen meetings will continue to meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month, with the exception of November and December. Only one meeting will be held in November, the second Thursday, while the board will meet in December on the second Thursday and fourth Monday. Meetings start at 6:30 p.m.A board workshop is held monthly on the first Monday beginning at 6 p.m., with the planning and zoning commission meeting normally the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. In the event the scheduled date is on a holiday, the meeting is pushed back by a day.Municipal court will be held the second and fourth Wednesday, starting at 6 p.m. at the Wil Heiliger Activity Building. Court will be held on the first and third Wednesday in November and December.In other news• Aldermen voted 4-0 to have an ordinance drafted adopting a new late penalty fee. A user will have to pay a 10 percent penalty on the first month the bill is delinquent and 1.5 percent late fee for every month thereafter. City officials recently discovered that some users are being charged a 10 percent delinquent fee every month.• Aldermen voted 4-0 to approve a training request from the police department. An officer will be sent to a weeklong criminal investigation class in North Carolina. The estimated cost, for lodging and meals, is $690. The rest of the expense will be picked up by the Warren County Sheriff’s Department.• The board approved the hiring of Jeannette Poole as a part-time police officer. She will be paid $11.75 an hour. The hiring passed by a 4-0 vote.Wright City aldermen amend 2014 budget