Smithville Aldermen Again Delay Action on City Budget

Passage of the new city budget has been delayed again.
The Smithville Mayor and Board of Aldermen met briefly Monday night to discuss the proposed spending plan for the 2010-11 fiscal year, but Alderman Steve White suggested that it be reviewed again before any action is taken. “I think that there are a few little tweaks we still need to make in it.”
The aldermen voted to delay first reading action on the proposed budget until the next meeting on Monday, August 2nd.
The new budget includes an increase in water and sewer rates, but the property tax rate would remain the same. Alderman have also proposed setting aside $400,000 toward the purchase of a ladder truck for the city volunteer fire department.
Meanwhile, Alderman Steve White, concerned about something he has seen in the budget, has called for an independent audit. “I think that due to some of the issues that we found looking in the budget we need to call for an all out audit from the state comptroller’s office. That way it would be an independent audit. It will cost us a little bit of money but I think it would be profitable for the city in the long run for us to do that.”
The aldermen voted to have the state comptroller conduct an audit.