WM officials put 2016 to bed, tweak 2017 budget
WM officials put 2016 to bed, tweak 2017 budget
Budget commissioners move funds to meet departmental needs
news@theeveningtimes.com The West Memphis Budget Committee made quick work to balance the books to properly close out 2016 and tweak the 2017 city budget. Committee members threw a one-two punch and it was done. Meeting Wednesday afternoon to hear the need for the modifications, City Councilors resolved to make the amendments on Wednesday to have them ready for the full City Council to approve the following day.
City Treasurer Frank Martin brought two issues forward. The first agenda action served to clean up last year to reflect the $2.6 million grant used to finish the new Southland Drive extension between Ingram Blvd. and 7th Street. The second issue moved $12,048 of inter-department reimbursements.
Three of the five committee members attended the meeting making a quorum to authorize the corrections.
Chairman Tracy Catt was reelected as to head the committee this year.
Councilman Wayne Croom and Marco McClendon made the group official. Councilors Helen Harris and Melanie Hutchinson missed the meeting.
Martin took the first step to move the business through committee and into City Council.
Last year the legislative auditor insisted that budget changes be approved by city council resolution.
“I’d like to get this submitted tomorrow through the budget committee,” said Martin. “We have a 2016 adjustment that had already been approved and paid. As you remember auditors want me to do a resolution to physically change the printed budget. Anything special needs to be approved through proper courses. It’s got to be done and there will be some more when we close out December.”
The move on paper included revenue for contracted services through Federal highway grants to complete Southland extension. This corrected the 2016 budget results and passed unanimously in committee and on the council floor the following day.
Utility Department reimbursements had to be set.
The utility company pays the city for support services. Half the budget for the City Attorney’s office, the finance department, and Human resources are funded through the utility.
Martin provided more examples.
“They pay 75 percent of the data process because they do all the billing over there. They pay 100 percent of Economic Development since any new business that comes into the city would sell electricity to. One third of the pest control they pay because it goes on the utility bills. They pay one third of our legal fees in addition to the city attorney because we work all of those fees through the municipal league at $3,000 apiece; then 33 percent of unemployment. We are self-insured in that and it’s been running $45,000 to $55,000. Finally Municipal League: the charge is onethird.”
The net difference came to $12,048 left from last year, and the committee moved the change to the council where it was approved.
The committee discussed scheduling regular meetings at agreeable times to maximize attendance by City Councilors for the rest of the year.
“We are required by state law to meet once a month,” said Frank Martin.
By John Rech
