Council passes 2016 budget

Madison City Council unanimously passed the city budget for Fiscal Year 2016 at approximately $30 million. (RECORD PHOTO)

MADISON – Madison City Council unanimously passed the city budget just shy of $30 million for Fiscal Year 2016, even without approval from Mayor Troy Trulock.

At its Sept. 14 meeting, the council approved $30,572,799 estimated revenue and $29,992,702 estimated expenses for the General Fund.

During presentation of reports, Trulock covered highlights of his proposed budget, which he submitted at 10 a.m. on Sept. 14. He reported that “projected revenues for 2015 are $29,803,000, the highest in eight years. We expect 2016 revenues to be about the same.”

“In the mayor’s office budget, I upped the funding for the Madison Chamber of Commerce from $30,000 to $55,000,” Trulock said. “I reduced the city council’s budget by $201,807. Again, this is just my recommendation.”

Trulock recommended “keeping employee benefits the same as this year” and adding funding for a mayor’s aide position. “We can discuss these changes tonight or at the (Sept. 23) work session or (Sept. 28) council meeting,” Trulock said.

Councilman and finance subcommittee chairman Steve Smith outlined the council’s budget proposal:

* 3-percent step raise for qualifying employees.

* 1.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

* Increase city reserves to more than 28 percent.

* $600,000-plus earmarked for neighborhood streets.

* $325,000 for repair of general streets and roads.

* $425,000 to pay utilities on street lights and signals.

* $310,000 for maintaining right-of-ways.

The council’s $715,000 in capital outlay included three fully-equipped police cars, MARS van and lift, resurfacing Dublin Park tennis courts, weather sirens for Limestone County residents, western- and midtown-growth plans and city brand study.

Councilman D.J. Klein said the COLA covers employees’ increase in insurance costs.

Council President Tommy Overcash said the “‘city council budget’ … is not spent on city council. It is spent on citizens and department heads as necessary. It’s like an emergency savings account.”

The budget process started in July, Smith said. Department heads’ deadline to submit a budget to the finance director was July 31. Klein said, “The idea that you (Trulock) presented this budget tonight … it was supposed to be to council by Aug. 1.”

Smith said the plan involved the finance subcommittee working with department heads on Aug. 26 and 27. The subcommittee would review the department heads’ and the mayor’s proposed budgets to present to council.

“This gave the mayor four weeks to look at the numbers,” Smith said. “The mayor was aware of this plan, but he did not present a budget for us to consider. The finance subcommittee had only the department heads’ proposed budget to work with,” Smith said.

“I repeatedly asked the mayor and all the finance committee members to please present us the mayor’s proposed budget,” Klein said. “Each time, he declined.”

“(Council has) had to go above and beyond normal duties to put together a robust budget. We had to talk in detail with department heads because we did not have the mayor’s proposed budget. So I am ready to go ahead … without considering your proposed budget at the eleventh hour,” Klein said.

“There is no eleventh hour,” Trulock said. “There is a work session next week and a council meeting in two weeks. I am the CEO of the city and chief administrative officer. I am responsible for putting together a budget and presenting it to city council.”

Overcash called for a vote. The council passed its proposed budget unanimously.