Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home City Council adopted a budget for 2014-15 along with several resolutions transferring funds and supplemental budget for the current budget year, 2013-14.
The council voted 5-1 to approve an $18.5 million budget. The budget takes effect on July 1 and ends on June 30, 2015. Dave Trask voted no on the resolution because he opposes the construction of a water filling station that has been carried forward in the budget for several years.
The $135,000 project is among plans described in the city’s hazard mitigation plan, which is needed for the city to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency funds following a disaster.
Voting for the budget were councilors Marybeth Angulo, Craig Fentiman, Scott McKee Jr. and Bruce Hobbs and Mayor Jim Gourley. Greg Mahler was absent.
In other business, the council approved a supplemental budget for 2013-14, recognizing additional revenues and expenses. Supplemental budgets are approved by the end of the fiscal year, June 30, to recognize changes.
Among them were a transfer of $20,000 from the General Fund to the Police Department to pay for the code enforcement officer position, which moved from the Community Development Department to the Police Department with the retirement of Community Development Director Carol Lewis in August.
It also recognized an additional $8,000 in the library’s beginning fund balance to cover additional staff costs and $40,000 to recognize insurance payments to cover repair costs for various claims submitted throughout the year.
In addition, the council voted to receive funds from the cigarette, gas and liquor taxes as well as shared state revenue and certified that the city provides four or more services, which is necessary to qualify for shared revenues.
The council voted to transfer $10,000 from contingency funds to personal services in the water and wastewater funds. The transfers will ensure the budgets have enough cash to pay management costs.
With the retirement of Lewis, parks and building services have been supervised by Public Works Director Mike Adams and Senior Engineering Technician Joe Graybill, said Finance Director Pat Gray. They receive additional compensation, and the transfers will ensure the additional pay does not deplete the personal services line items.