GAUTIER, Miss. (AP) - The Gautier City Council has adopted a $9.6 million budget. The council approved the budget during a special meeting Monday night.

The budget calls for a cut of $680,000. Over $360,000 of that cut will come from privatizing the public works department. The city has budgeted money to run the department for two more months, but beginning Dec. 1, the department will be privatized.

City Manager Samantha Abell says employees that have been with the city for more 20 or more years and are nearing retirement will remain city employees within the public works department until they retire. Three employees are in that category.

The Sun Herald reports (http://bit.ly/UCdhO4 ) other budget cuts include the renegotiation of several contracts including medical insurance and solid waste contracts for a savings of $430,000.

Information from: The Sun Herald, http://www.sunherald.com

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