Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 115, No. 27	July 2, 2008

‘Bare bones budget’ earns Muldraugh endorsement

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

In his budget address, Muldraugh Mayor Danny Joe Tate said this spending plan was the hardest he has had to put together in his 10-year tenure as mayor.

The first reading of the budget was adopted on a 5-1 vote June 25 with Councilmember Donnie Basham casting the dissenting vote.

Basham commented earlier it would be nice if someone voted against something, as “everything was going so smoothly.”

“And I still can’t make it work,” Tate said. “We are short $30,000 in the general fund and about $25,000 to $30,000 in the water and sewer fund.”

In order to counteract this shortfall, since by law Kentucky counties and cities are required to present balanced budget at the start of their fiscal year, Tate proposed two items.

The first was eliminating two part-time patrolman positions and the second was restricting take-home vehicles for all departments.

“We have over $200,000 budgeted for our police department and for a town our size that is way too high,” Tate said.

The price of fuel caused Tate to eliminate take-home vehicles, indicating the cost of one to two tanks of gas weekly would save the city money.

“I hate to do that to the police department but to make the budget balance I had to do that. Otherwise it isn’t going to work,” he said,

Tate said there would be no overtime for the remaining four full-time officers and the water and sewer department.

“It’s going to be tough,” Tate continued. “It’s really going to be tough. We are going to know the amount of everything we are purchasing and write out a purchase order for it. If it comes in over the amount the purchase order is, then we aren’t going to pay (the bill).”

“We have got to make our money stretch and we are going to make it work,” he said.

He reiterated he didn’t want to cut the police department, but said he was to the point where he had to devise a balanced budget.

Tate welcomed ideas from others on financial solutions.

Tate said the city really needed to have a police department and indicated he would like to see 24-hour police protection, but felt it couldn’t be done, especially with the skyrocketing cost of fuel.

Officials budgeted $14,000 in the new budget, which becomes effective July 1 for gas and oil, despite the fact the amended budget showed an expenditure of $17,000.

Tate was reluctant to seek a tax increase for residents or businesses, saying they needed to start right there in city hall with the cuts.

“We need to tighten up,” he said. “We are going to tighten up and we are going to make it work.”

Constable Henry Bailey suggested adding a surcharge to tickets, similar to a Georgia program.

Tate said he would have to discuss the suggestion with the attorney.

“We just need to do what we can to get money outside of this city,” Tate continued. “I am tired of everytime we need money we run out here and raise something to get it. We are going to try to do it this way and see what happens .”

Officer John Stinebruner suggested officers be charged mileage from their homes to city hall, allowing them to keep their take-home vehicles, but reimbursing the gas costs.

Stinebruner already performs maintenance on city patrol cars, saving those costs, and acquires necessary parts at a discount.

Stinebruner said, coming from a one-car family and living about five miles from the city, it would be a big deal if his take-home vehicle was taken away.

Councilmember Curtis Kelley said officials could investigate to determine current mileage rates.

City clerk/teasurer Caroline Cline will research the issue.

“Our main concern is the cost of fuel,” Tate said. “It is all about money.”

Bailey suggested officials recoup funds charged for false alarms and the time spent waiting for a responsible person.

He responded to a local business two different times recently and waited about 45 minutes until someone arrived to secure the facility.

“Our businesses already pay good money and they are already paying for that service,” Tate said.

Tate suggested members review the budget prior to a second reading June 26.

The budget shows a decrease in the city’s liability insurance, to the tune of about $4,000, Cline said.

“They knew we were shopping so they came down,” she said. “It increased due to these frivolous lawsuits various people file and it causes us a big expense.”

Tate reiterated the fact the city might have to do without a few things this year, due to the tight budget.

“There just isn’t going to be any money available,” he said. “There is going to be no money for things I would like to get done for the city this year. Things are just not going to get done.”

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