Final budget to be determined
Submitted by jcht2010 on
The Edna City Council met in workshop on Aug. 17 to discuss the city’s annual budget. The council has been looking at areas to cut expenses after a $900,000 deficit last year.
Mayor Joe Hermes told department heads that even though money will be budgeted for each department, they are to consider carefully when spending it.
“Just because we have a total in here to spend doesn’t mean we have to spend it,” he said. Hermes told the council the city has cashed in six certificates of deposit so far this year. He said a balanced budget isn’t necessarily a good thing.
“We need a budget that is going to take in more than it pays out,” he said. “We need to have enough operating expenses for six months. I’m asking all departments not to spend any unnecessary funds. Unless it is an absolute emergency – don’t spend it.”
City Manager Don Doering presented a third preliminary budget, which still includes the Edna Fire/EMS. In earlier budget workshops council and Hermes proposed turning the fire department over to the ESD3 and the EMS to the hospital district. Both proposals were controversial and drew criticism from fire department employees and members of the community.
The Aug. 17 proposed budget includes $985,600 for the fire department, a decrease of nearly $90,000.
The proposed budget also includes a 50 cent increase in trash fees to offset an anticipated drop in sales tax revenue.
Council will meet in regular session at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20. The interlocal agreement between the city and ESD for fire and EMS is on the agenda. Another budget workshop is set for Thursday, Sept. 3 at city hall.
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