West Memphis delays setting 2018 budget

West Memphis delays setting 2018 budget

Council plans to finalize

news@theeveningtimes.com

With bonuses and raises for West Memphis employees being bandied about since Thanksgiving and pension funds for police and fire fighters being transferred, no time has yet been devoted to hearing department budget plans and piecing together the overall city budget. This led city treasurer Frank Martin to ask the full city council to delay hearings and approval until after the new year. Budget chairman, Councilor Tracy Catt was surprised while making the commission report to city council when the treasurer interrupted.

“We’ll start next week with budget hearings,” began Catt.

“No, I’ve delayed that,” said Martin. “I’ve asked the mayor just this week to do just 1/12th of the budget for January.”

Municipal code made allowances for the delay. The Mayor must submit a proposed annual budget to city council by December 1 each year to allow study time. The budget must be approved by the beginning of February of the calendar year. But, the city needs a funding provision to operate in January.

Martin wanted the hearings to kick off after the holidays and have the budget finalized by city council during its January 19 meeting.

“I want to have the budget meetings the first week of January,” said Martin.

While council did handle a budget amendment to provide three percent bonuses to city workers before Christmas, no budget amendment was offered to apply another 2017 average month to carry January operating expenses for the city.

By John Rech