The Covington City Council voted unanimously to remove a discussion of pay raises for council members from the agenda of Monday night’s council meeting, effectively dropping the issue.

The vote came after City Manager Steve Horton and Mayor Kim Carter recommended tabling the discussion at a work session that took place immediately before the regularly scheduled public meeting.

City Attorney Ed Crudup Jr. suggested the council vote to remove the agenda item instead of tabling it, as tabling items usually sets a date for further discussion.

At the work session, Horton explained how he had attended a special called Board of Commissioners’ meeting Saturday where board members discussed how to make up for a $5 million budget shortfall.

"We really can’t see that far down the road ourselves," Horton said of reserving the council’s current surplus.

Carter did point out to council members that the city is heading into the next budget season.

"So it’s prudent to take a look at it," Carter said, "but we can bring it up at another time."

In other city council news:

• An amended pawnbroker ordinance was adopted and now requires pawnbrokers to submit with their daily reports to the Covington Police Department a fingerprint of all customers’ right index finger.

• Storm water utility fees were decreased to $3 per ERU per month. These fees are collected to offset the city’s cost of providing storm water services to its residents.

• The council approved the payment of $105,000 to PBS&J to execute an Airport Layout Plan outlining the current efficiency and possible economic development opportunities as well as any future land uses relating to the Covington Municipal Airport.