City budget includes 15 percent cut

By GINA KINSLOW
Glasgow Daily Times

GLASGOW June 09, 2009 12:42 pm

— Members of the Glasgow City Council approved on first reading Monday night the city’s 2009-10 budget.
Prior to approving the first reading of the ordinance, a public hearing was held allowing anyone time to comment on the budget.
Councilman Jim Marion pointed out during the public hearing that in the 2008-09 fiscal year the city has an estimated $4.9 million carry-over in the General Fund from the previous fiscal year and anticipates a $2.9 million carry-over for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Three years ago, Marion said he referred to the carry over as the city’s rainy day fund.
“A year ago it clouded up and this year it’s raining,” he said. “That’s basically why we asked for a 15 percent cut (from each city department) of which we basically got and that’s what you’re looking at.”
Mayor Darrell Pickett commended city department heads for a job well done in looking for things that could be cut from the budget and help save the city money.
“I know this was a strain on them that probably they’ve never had before,” he said. “But with the way the economy is, we had no other choice. I think in reality we are still financially stable.”
Pickett also said he felt good about the budget and that it was one the city could live with. He noted that some cities in area counties have had to lay off personnel in order to save money.
“Thank goodness we haven’t done that yet,” Pickett said.
Councilwoman Jeanne Scalise questioned whether the city could cut back on the number of vehicles purchased.
“Is there any we could sell?” she asked.
While several financial cuts have already been made, it is very possible others will occur.
Marion said the council’s finance committee will be meeting with each city department individually in July to look at other things that could possibly be trimmed from the budget.
The city has a total estimated year end balance for the 2009-10 fiscal year of $12,144,486. Anticipated fund balances for individual departments for the 2009-10 fiscal year are: Tartan Glen, $90,677; Renaissance/Grant Fund, $1,520; Municipal Road Aid, $35,931; Kentucky Revolving Loan, $640,574; KLEFPF Police and Fire, $33,803; GEDL Fund, $743,278; Municipal Cemetery, $17,297; Perpetual Upkeep, $612,931; and Sanitation/Landfill, $3,022,269.