Monticello Delays Action on Budget

Members of the Monticello City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to delay adopting the budget until the next regular meeting, scheduled for July 14.

Councilman Bryan Standifer said he did not want to adopt the budget unless everyone was present. (Councilwoman Katherine Alexander was out of town for Tuesday’s meeting.)

Councilwoman Mollie Pompey asked if the proposed budget had the increased water and sewer rates. She then asked what the percentage increase is. City Manager Bob Schwartz said it varies.

The city has different base rates depending on usage. A residential customer who uses only 2,000 gallons or less of water a month now pays $14.41 a month for water, and $10.23 for sewer. Under the budget, that water rate will increase to $19.45, and the sewer will also be $19.45.

The city has been losing money on water and sewer for some time, and cannot qualify for grants or loans because of the low rates.

Councilwoman Pompey asked if anyone had considered the human factor. “If they’re not paying their bills now, they aren’t going to be able to pay when they go up,” she said.

Mayor Glenn Newsome reminded Mrs. Pompey and the others that if you make changes to revenues, you must make changes to expenses to offset that action. The budget must be balanced, he said.

The city reduced the budget from $9.7 million in the current year to $8.2 million for 2009-10.

Council members asked the city manager to provide them with more reports, and were reminded that the main topic at the July 6 work session will be sidewalks.