Council considers budget options

Waynesboro City Manager Mike Hamp proposed at Monday’s City Council meeting to cut about $40,000 from the general fund budget to eliminate one of the two proposed furlough days, using some reserve funds to offset the difference.

The proposed fiscal year 2010 budget calls for two furlough days for employees, but at its last work session, council members asked to eliminate at least one of the furlough days. They also asked for $26,000 to be restored for the Heritage Foundation and called for Hamp to review the currently vacant Recreation Program Coordinator position.

Hamp proposed removing $10,000 from the general fund budget for the enterprise zone program and another $10,000 for project grants that go toward façade and awning improvements. While the two programs would still be offered, the payments would be made by the Economic Development Authority’s reserve – now $122,411 – as the EDA receives grant applications.

The City Council would then be asked to replenish the EDA’s reserve account through the council’s economic development reserve fund, the unreserved fund balance or other available money.

In recommending the cut for the tax relief program, Hamp said Commissioner of Revenue Don Coffey has received all the applications for tax relief. As a result, Hamp said there is an extra $15,000 in the budget that can be cut.

Hamp also called for moving $5,980 from the courthouse maintenance reserve to the general fund to pay for some electric utility expenses for court facilities at the Gorsuch Building.

If the council recommends eliminating the other furlough day, Hamp proposed using an additional $17,000 from the courthouse maintenance reserve to pay for up to one-third of the Gorsuch Building and using $22,759 of the Health Department reserve.

Responding to a question from Mayor Tim Williams, Hamp said the city could keep one furlough day, shifting it to later in the fiscal year so that, should the city’s economic condition improve, that furlough day could be eliminated.

“I think this is a good compromise that Mr. Hamp has brought to us,” Williams said.

Vice Mayor Frank Lucente continued to call for cutting the $26,000 from the Heritage Foundation. He wants to eliminate both furlough days.

The council did not make any final decisions on the furlough days – with Councilwomen Nancy Dowdy and Lorie Smith absent – and will take up the matter prior to the fiscal year 2010 budget’s adoption on June 22.