Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
A last-minute revision to the City of Monticello’s proposed budget for the coming fiscal year has caused an $18,891 deficit, one that city officials plan to make up with dollars from a reserve fund in the police department.
The deficit results from a last-minute request from the Monticello Police Department (MPD) for an additional $35,091 to hire one more patrol officer.
In explaining his reason for the request to the Monticello City Council on Wednesday evening, Aug. 25, MPD Chief Fred Mosley said the city’s growth made the addition of another officer necessary for the general safety of all officers.
“We haven’t asked for an extra officer in 30 years,” Mosley said, noting that the department was saving money in several areas, including a grant and two officers who were presently attending school and hence not drawing their full salaries.
If need be, he said, the council could make up the deficit from the $42,000 reserve fund that the department had, although it was later pointed out that the fund was intended for the purchase of a new police vehicle when the time came.
In the end, the council allowed the deficit to proceed, expecting that additional revenues from another source or unexpected reductions in other areas will suffice to make up the difference. And if not, the money could always be drawn from the police department reserve fund, which was the consensus.
The latest revisions show the police department’s proposed budget at a total of $856,424, versus last year’s budget of $774,346, including salaries, operating expenses and incidentals.
Overall, the city’s general fund budget is projected to be $2,716,195 for the coming fiscal year, compared with $2,267,431 in the current fiscal year. The fiscal year runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.
The city expects property tax revenues of $673,400 for the coming fiscal year, an increase of $18,176 over the current year. The reason for the increase, despite adopting the lower tax, is because of increased property valuations due to new construction and renovations.
The total water and sewer fund, including salaries and operating costs, is projected at $1,445,750 for the coming fiscal year, versus $1,293,000 in the current fiscal year.
The city’s combined ending balance, including the general fund, water and sewer fund, grants and carried-forward balance amounts to $13,565,986.
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