By PERRY SMITH / Staff Writer

WILSONVILLE – Improved roads, new sanitation and, most importantly, more water will all be coming to Wilsonville by the end of next year.

The town council recently approved Wilsonville’s operating budget for 2008, which totals roughly $1.2 million.

Notably missing is funding for a new water supply, as the city remains under tight watering restrictions.

“Water is the top priority,” Mayor Rosemary Liveoak said.

Liveoak said it was at the top of the list, but the bidding process has not started yet because the city was waiting for federal approval on laying pipes through Beeswax Creek near County Road 151.

Liveoak said construction could start as soon as Dec. 1.

The project would roughly double the city’s projected expenditures.

But one of the most noticeable changes for citizens will be paid for by the state and not come out of the city budget.

The traffic light downtown near city hall on Highway 25 will soon have a turning lane in each direction.

The council also voted to change garbage collection from city services to the county