Council approves $3.66M budget
Albany city officials worked through several major agenda items at this week’s monthly meeting, including approval of the 2024-2025 budget totaling $3,656,200,whichpassedwitha unanimous council vote prior to the city’s new fiscal year which begins April 1.
Also accepted was the 20222023 audit report.
Golf Cart Issue
During the citizens forum portion of the meeting, Albany mayor Susan Montgomery askedlocalresidentstohelpwith the city’s initiative to enforce the golf cart ordinance regarding unlicensed drivers.
“Since we put the notice in the paper, there have already been some negative comments on social media pointing out that there are still a lot of kids driving around on golf carts,” she said. “We want everyone to consider that we only have one city policeman, and not only can he not work every single day, he can’t be everywhere at once.”
Montgomery said that the numberoneneedisforparentsto make sure their children are not driving golf carts on city streets.
“Secondly,if you seesomeone, please call city hall and tell us,” shesaid.“Youcan’tjusthopethat our police officer happens to be in the area and sees them, too.”
The mayor noted that there was recently a bad accident in Ranger involving a golf cart.
“We do not want that to happen here,” she said. “We need to do everything we can to protect our children, and if that means ticketing their parents, that’s what we’ll do.”
Budget Adoption
Followingtherequiredpublic hearing,LesterGalbreathmade a motion, seconded by Austin Sherwood, to adopt a balanced budget totaling $3,656,200.
City manager Billy Holson briefly reviewed the budget, which the council members had looked at during a recent budget workshop.
The budget is about $50,000 less than last year’s original budget.
The revenue side includes $252,700 from the reserve fund, Holson noted.
Headdedthathewas“pleased with the budget” and that much of the work had been done by citydepartmentheadsandother employees.
2022-2023 Audit CPA Cameron Gulley went through the audit for the year ending March 31, 2023, stating that the city is “in great shape financially, much of that due to local contributions.
“Most small communities, even larger ones, would be thrilled to get even a fraction of what you get in donations from your citizens,” Gulley said. “You have generous donors, and you do a good job of managing your finances.”
The audit, a clean opinion with no compliance issues, was approved on a motion by Galbreath, seconded by Don Taggart.
Trash Issue
Holson stated that Republic Services has started billing the city $20 for every occurrence of commercial dumpsters and residential polycarts being too full, with almost 50 photos of violations sent to the city.
Overage includes things like old umbrellas that stick past the tops of the polycarts and garbage that doesn’t actually fit inside.
“If the lid is not down flush, it’s considered to be an overage,” said Holson, whoalsosaidthatwoodand limbs are not allowed in the trash containers.
When asked if the city could pass the charges on to violators, Holson said that much of the trash in commercial containers is put there illegally, and he is hesitant about charging the businesses for overage.
He plans to meet with Republic later this week to discuss the charges.
Other Business
•The council passed a resolution to deny an AEP rate increase request and to join with other cities to argue the request before the Public Utilities Commission.
•The May 4 city election wascancelledbecausethere are no opposed races.
•Arequestwasapproved from the West Central Texas Water Development Board to lease 75-acre feet of Possum Kingdom water per year from the city’s allotted 130-acre feet.
