The Demopolis City Council approved a $9.843 million budget that is $72 to the good during a special called meeting Wednesday.

“That’s about as close to a balanced budget as your are going to get,” said Mayor Mike Grayson.

The 2012-2013 budget is slightly down from last year, when expenditures were $9.956 million.

Now that the budget has been approved during the special meeting, Christmas bonuses will be paid to city employees. The next regularly scheduled meeting isn’t until Dec. 20.

“I think that was my basis for calling this meeting,” Grayson said.

A proposed budget was presented during the Dec. 6 meeting but was tabled after several questions. That budget had a $52,000 surplus, but a typo concerning the beer and wine tax and adjustments to the public works department brought that number down.

“I think it’s a good budget. It’s not perfect, “Grayson said. “I will tell you a lot of effort went into this. It reflects what I think we need to do.”