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In a time where financial worries are running rampant, the Winder City Council passed its 2010 Fiscal Year budget with little fanfare at Monday night’s special called meeting.
The budget had to be passed before Tuesday, the last day of the 2009 Fiscal Year.
The budget for the upcoming year is pared down a great deal from budgets in the past, coming in at $42,999,345 for the year, as opposed to $46,126,760 for the 2009 Fiscal Year.
The City has made a list of budget highlights available for the public to pick up at the City Hall. After Winder resident Bob Dixon suggested doing so, the City decided to now add a layman’s explanation in all future budgets, according to city administrator Bob Beck.
With the 2009 Fiscal Year officially over — today is the first day of the 2010 Fiscal Year — the City will now begin the process of accounting for all billing and invoicing done in June.
It will be a while before the City is able to say whether they are in the red or black.
City Finance Director Leslie Ginn said that invoices for June will continue to roll in, and the City audit will not begin until September.Additionally, Local Option Sales Tax revenues for June will not be received until August.
The Council also approved budget amendments for the 2009 Fiscal Year budget. A budget is a set of guidelines and certain purchases and expenditures expected in 2008 came in after June 30 last year, explained Ginn.
For example, the city had budgeted for the financing and purchasing of a new ladder truck in 2008, but the finalization of the purchase was in the 2009 Fiscal Year budget.
In addition to that amendment, money also was reallocated to purchase police patrol vehicles and to pay principal and interest payments. A previous audit had suggested created a police escrow fund, so that also is an amendment.
The municipal court also had amendments in the budget.
In addition, the City approved a property tax rollback of 4.2715 mils
The City has created ordinances regarding Stormwater Detention, as well as the monitoring and containment of Fats, Oils and Greases.
The FOG has been a problem as a local restaurant recently pressure washed gallons of the fluids down drains. The restaurant had to hire a crew to clean it up, City Administrator Bob Beck said.
The Winder City Council next meets on Tuesday, July 7, at 6 p.m. at the Winder Community Center.
