SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING
Monday December 1, 2014 at 6:00 PM at the
Goodman City Hall
December 1, 2014
Special Budget Meeting
The Board of Aldermen held a budget meeting on Monday night December 1, 2014 at 6:00 PM. Those present included Mayor Greg Richmond, Alderpersons Calvin Wilson, Keith Kohley, Alice Kezar and Bill Hess. Also present were City Supervisor David Brodie, Chief of Police Curt Drake, Emergency Management Director Denis Kolb and City Clerk Paula Brodie.
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
The Board worked on the 2015 Budget. The Mayor asked the clerk where the Board was on the budget since the last meeting. The Clerk informed the Board that she had inserted their figures into the budget and noted that the water, sewer and street funds are in the red. The Board discussed the reasons. It was noted that there had been a significant increase in expenses to run the water and sewer department. The clerk noted that the electric bill was $11,000.00 higher this year than last year and the repairs, supplies and parts was $9,000.00 over budget this year. She also noted that the water department was over budget but because the Board had decided to cash in a $100,000.00 CD to take care of all of the added expenses, parts and repairs it was not in the red as much as it could have been. David noted that the City’s new water and sewer permits require more testing and has higher limit expectations. Because of these changes and the age of the sewer and water system the expenses just keep going up.
The Board discussed the need to raise the sewer and water rates. They discussed whether or not to raise the minimum or per thousand rate. Ald. Wilson stated that if the Board raised the minimum sewer and water rate by $1.00 each per month the cost per household would be $24.00 a year. During the discussion the Board noted that Nick Myers, the city’s auditor and Rural Development had been telling the Board that they needed to keep the rates high enough to cover the current bills and future repairs and expenses.
The Board agreed to increase the water and sewer minimum rate by $1.00 each. The Clerk is to draw an ordinance up for them to vote on December 16th and January 6, 2015. The new rates will take effect on the February 1st billing. The 2015 Budget will be voted on at the December 16th meeting.
Ald. Kohley moved to adjourn. Ald. Wilson seconded. Ald. Kohley, Hess, Kezar and Wilson voted aye with 0 nays.