LOCKHART — The Town of Lockhart approved a budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

The council approved the second and final reading of the budget after approving the first reading on June 12. The balanced budget for 2012-2013 came to $332,700 in revenue and expenditures.

Town bookkeeper Brenda Jenkins explained each line item in great detail, emphasizing the importance of controlling the budget and staying on target.

Mayor Ailene Ashe told the council that the town’s water costs from Brown’s Creek Water Co. will increase by 10 percent, which means there will also be an increase in Lockhart residents’ water bills. The increase will be effective for July billing.

Ashe also mentioned that DHEC requires the town to run fire hydrants and flush the water system on a regular basis, which ends up costing the town.

Council members agreed that the town has no choice other than to increase water bills this year, as the town took a loss with water/sewer costs during the past year.

Ashe also updated the council in the way of old business and the SC 9 Bridge Replacement Project, which consists of replacing four “structurally deficient” bridges along SC 9 in Union and Chester counties.

The town has received fliers for the project and Mayor Ashe said they will be distributed to residents. The fliers show the selected Proposed-Preferred Alternative 2A as the alignment to proceed forward to the public hearing stage of the project. A larger display of Alternative 2A is available for viewing at the Lockhart Town Hall.