The City of Butler may have to reduce projected expenses for the upcoming year in order to arrive at a balanced budget.
Director of Accounts and Finance Councilman Mike Walter:
“We cannot balance the budget the way the city’s finances are at this time,” Walter said. “A couple departments are going to have to make hard decisions. I honestly don’t think we can do it we the manpower staffing of the city that we have right now.”
Walter’s distribution of the first draft of a budget for 2020 includes an imbalance of approximately $400,000 to $800,000. This projection includes a small increase in expected revenue but a larger increase in desired spending from several city departments.
This budget would include $500,000 from the Liquid Fuels Fund for Street Paving as well as a small borrowing loan of $280,000 for storm sewer work. However, according to Walter, there is no room for increases in spending.
“Our expenses are just too high,” Walter said. “There are a couple of departments that were higher [budgets] than what we had last year and they shouldn’t be because we don’t have the money. You guys have to look at your departments and see what you can do without.”
A balanced preliminary budget is expected to be put before council for a vote sometime in November before a vote for final approval would take place in December.