A fiscal year 2017-18 tentative budget of $9.4 million was approved by the Snowflake Town Council June 27.
Town Manager Brian Richards said that the budget is more than $2 million higher than the present year’s because it includes a Community Development Block Grant and a $500,000 contingency fund.
“I appreciate Brian, he’s worked hard putting this together. If anybody can find savings, he’s found them,” said Councilman Terril Kay, adding that he felt residents need to be aware that water and sewer costs continue to go up, and the golf course continues to cost to operate.
Vice Mayor Kerry Ballard asked Richards to explain the increase in the police department budget.
Richards said it is mainly due to wages and a lawsuit filed against the retirement system that prevailed. This requires towns to return some money to retirees. Snowflake has to return $67,000 to current and retired members. In addition, the employer share of retirement fund costs increased.
The tentative budget totals $9,446,781 in expenditures/expenses for fiscal year 2017-18, an increase of $2,717,544 from the previous year.
The department managers can exceed a line item budget amount, but cannot exceed the total departmental level amount without council approval, Richards explained. The budget cannot exceed the amount tentatively approved.
Richards explained that if the tentative budget were approved that evening, the town would prepare and publish Schedule A of the Auditor General forms in the newspaper for two consecutive weeks and then hold a public hearing on Aug. 8. At that time, the final budget will be presented to the council for approval.
