The City of Ironton has closed one budget and is looking ahead to the next one.

During the regular meeting of the Ironton City Council Thursday, the group voted to amend the 2010 budget for a final time.

Also at the meeting, a budget workshop was scheduled so the council’s finance committee can discuss the city’s permanent 2011 budget. The city is required to have the permanent budget in place by March.

The workshop, which is open to the public, will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers of the Ironton City Center.

City officials are starting to schedule meetings with its unions about salaries and benefits, Finance Director Kristen Martin said.

While it will likely take more than one meeting to set a permanent budget, Martin said the workshop is a way to start a conversation about it.

The city’s insurance broker, Dave Brown, will also be at the meeting to discuss rates for the year, Mayor Rich Blankenship said.

In other business, the Ironton City Council also:

• Passed an ordinance authorizing Blankenship to award bids for construction materials and concrete for the year 2011.

• Heard the second reading of an ordinance allowing Blankenship to purchase new dumpsters for the city.

• Heard the second reading of an ordinance authorizing Blankenship to award bids for the purchase of chemicals for the year 2011.

• Passed a resolution authorizing transfers and indirect cost reimbursements as adopted by the 2011 annual budget appropriation ordinance.

• Passed a resolution authorizing the transfer of municipal court probation funds to the general fund for expenses incurred on behalf of the community corrections program.

• Passed a resolution authorizing and directing Martin to enter into a contract with City National Bank for services to utilize the Ohio Business Gateway automated clearing house functions. Martin told the council that by switching to City National Bank from US Bank for Ohio Business Gateway ACH functions, the city will save $165 each month in charges. City National Bank agreed to allow the city free banking for the next two years, she said.

• Passed a resolution authorizing the city to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation Cooperative Purchasing Program.