City officials opened their budget discussions Monday with a full day which includes public works and Winchester Fire-EMS budgets.

City Manager Matt Belcher presented his proposed budget to the city commissioners during their meeting May 2. The next budget workshop scheduled for May 20, and the entire budget must be approved twice by June 30.

The proposed budget included an estimated $4.43 million carryover from this fiscal year with $20.45 million in projected revenue and $20.83 in expenses.

The proposed budget included a 3 percent raise for all city employees but does not add any new position; current vacant positions can be filled, though.

Belcher said the budget contains two major capital projects: purchasing a new street sweeper for Winchester Public Works and constructing a storage building for Winchester Fire-EMS.

Public Works Director Pat Clark said the current sweeper has been repaired as much as it can and has maintenance issues. The proposal, which was included in the budget, involves financing $250,000 of the $350,000 cost, with the balance coming from the city and municipal road aid funds.

The fire department’s budget includes $280,000 to construct a 50-by-80 foot storage building near its Station 3 in the Winchester Industrial Park. The building, which would be built near the new training tower, would include workout space for the firefighters as well as storage for a number of trailers and other equipment, which is presently stored outside or among other sites.

The budget also included $40,000 for a new pickup truck for public works and more than $56,000 to purchase and equip a command vehicle for the fire department.

A proposal to create nine new positions to add a fourth front-line ambulance for the department, though, was deferred for financial reasons. Rigney said the department currently has nine vacant positions to fill and wasn’t sure they could fill the nine new positions, though she would like to try.

Earlier Monday, the commissioners heard presentations from other groups including the Winchester Tree Board, the Generations Center, the planning commission, board of adjustments, planning and zoning, the Historic Preservation Commission and the city manager’s budget for city hall and the commission.

The agenda for the second workshop meeting has not been published yet.