WM Council delays 2017 budget approval

WM Council delays 2017 budget approval

City sitting on figures until January

news@theeveningtimes.com

The 2017 West Memphis city budget was not ready for approval at the final regular meeting of the year.

While the proposed spending plan had been circulated to City Councilors for consideration the budget committee was still conducting daily hearings making department by department reviews. With the final budget up in the air, Mayor Bill Johnson asked the City Council to cover January expenses at one-twelfth of the 2016 budget.

The City Council approved the measure to make payroll and pay the city bills. A similar measure was passed for the beginning of 2016. A full year later, and with budget hearings still underway, the city was backed into the same corner and opted for the one-month budget equivalent extension to do business in January. Treasurer Frank Martin was absent from the meeting so Mayor Johnson provided the overview.

“This went through the budget committee, and was approved by Frank, so everybody can get paid next month,” said Johnson.

“We’ll finish up the budget next week.”

Budget Chairman Tracy Catt explained the practicality of using the 2016 monthly rate for January 2017 and honed in on the payroll in front of a gallery filled city employees.

“The salary numbers are the same, so it won’t effect payroll,” said Budget Chairman Tracy Catt.

Councilor Lorraine Robinson underscored the purpose of the maneuver.

“That one-twelfth will allow the employees to continue to get paid their salaries,” said Robinson.

“That’s the explanation.”

The Mayor confirmed it was a simple stop-gap measure until the 2017 budget is finally approved.

“After January the regular budget takes over,” said Johnson.

By John Rech