By DEBORAH GERTZ HUSAR

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

PITTSFIELD, Ill. -- The Pittsfield City Council is a step closer to adopting a balanced budget for the current fiscal year.

Aldermen gave first reading approval Tuesday to an $8.47 million spending plan, up $156,035 from last year. The budget includes funds for various new equipment, including a backhoe and possibly a one-ton truck, street and sidewalk repairs and a four-wheel-drive vehicle for the police department.

"With the last major storm we had, our police personnel couldn't get to work," Mayor John Hayden said. "There are times they need to be able to get around in bad weather."

The budget also includes a line item for an anticipated loan of up to $500,000 for a new water line project. The city relies on Lake Pittsfield for its water supply, but with increasing federal rules on surface water sources like the lake and an aging water plant, aldermen favor an alternate water source -- a new well and water line brought up from the Mississippi River.

The city expects the project to cost $6 million to $7 million, but "we won't know until we bid it out," Hayden said. "That may be quicker than you think We've tied up all the easements."

Final approval of the budget is expected at the July 15 meeting.

-- dhusar@whig.com/221-3379