RACINE — At its most recent meeting, Racine Village Council approved its annual budget which will include keeping a watchful eye on the cemetery fund.

Unlike townships or other village’s with cemetery levies, Greenwood Cemetery in Racine is funded through a trust and as of Dec. 31, 2008, only $27,888.07 was left in that fund, with the village’s budget commission anticipating appropriations at $29,088.07 this year.

One of the problems include the fact several of the deceased no longer have family in the area or literally living so the village receives no new funds for perpetual care expenses, such as mowing for these older areas of the cemetery. Also, in newer parts of the cemetery, some families have not paid a perpetual care fee which Mayor J. Scott Hill said should be suggested to all those who purchase new lots in Greenwood Cemetery to help maintain the area.

Total permanent appropriations for this year were approved by council in the amount of $478,495.89. Racine had a total cash carryover into the new year of $267,290.32.

Councilman Ike Spencer was once again elected as president of council. Spencer and Councilman Dale Hart’s term ends on Dec. 31, 2012 as does Hill’s. Councilmen Jason Shain, Jim Harmon, Ivan Powell and Tom Reed end their terms on Dec. 31 of this year.

In other news, the following council members were appointed to the following committees:

Police and fire committee, Spencer, Shain and Reed. Financial and audit committee, all members of council. Street committee, Reed, Hart, Harmon. Ordinance committee, Spencer, Powell, Harmon. Annexation committee, Shain, Hart, Spencer, Reed. Human resources committee, Hart, Harmon, Spencer. Parks and recreation committee, Reed, Powell, hart.

It was also announced Clerk Treasurer David Spencer’s office term is up on March 31, 2013.