Council approves $3.01M budget

By Melinda L. Lucas

Financial figures for both the past and present were major topics during the Albany city council’s meeting on Monday, when a $3.01 million budget was adopted for fiscal year 2021-2022, and the audit was approved for 2020-2021.

The required public hearing time was allowed at the beginning of the meeting, but no one from the public had any comments.

Other action taken by the council this week was to extend Albany mayor Susan Montgomery’s disaster declaration relating to last month’s winter storm, in hopes that extensive expenditures for water leaks and other damages can be recovered if the county is ever included in FEMA relief.

Adopted Budget

The balanced budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins April 1, 2021, totals $3,013,025, about where this year’s amended budget will end up.

Three additional employees are included in the new budget, with hopes of having enough personnel later in the year to complete some street repairs.

Revenues and expenditures for the adopted budget are based on those in the current year’s financials.

In addition to the 2021-2022 budget, the council also approved a five-year capital improvements plan that city manager Billy Holson explained will be adjusted continually as the city moves forward.

The plan includes future expenditures for the water plant, distribution system, wastewater department, streets, and other infrastructure.

Audit Report

CPA Cameron Gulley of Eastland presented the audit for the year that ended March 31, 2020, once again commending local residents for their support of city projects.

“Albany is fortunate to have the support of citizens to make things happen,” said Gulley. “It’s incredible that you had three-quarters of a million dollars in capital improvements in 2019, and not a dime of it was financed.”

There were no noncompliance issues or deficiencies.

Lynsi Musselman’s motion to approve the audit passed unanimously.

Gulley suggested that the council look into refinancing bonds for the water plant, similar to what the county did recently for law enforcement center bonds.

Other Business

•The May 1 election was cancelled since there are no opposing races.

•The mayor and city manager were authorized as representatives to sign documents pertaining to a block grant application.

•Police chief Mike House’s 2020 racial profiling report was approved.