The Shelbyville Common Council took a second vote on the city’s 2014 budget Monday, with large decreases in some appropriations.
The budget passed 5-2, with council members Ron Hamilton and David Carmony voting against it.
The budget was able to whittle down some $755,000 in appropriations from various departments from the last reading.
The budget also contained specific appropriations for racino funds, which budgets in years past have not.
Those racino appropriations are a point of contention for at least one of the dissenting votes, while Mayor Tom DeBaun said including racino and Economic Development Income Tax funds in the budget helps create transparency.
Part of the racino funds in the budget will be used for police and fire, in case the state decides the general fund budget is too big.
The state will return that decision as late as February.
By appropriating racino funds on the actual budget, it gives a clearer picture of how much the city actually spends, DeBaun said.
The budget usually has a total of about $18 million in appropriations, while the city actually spends $28 to $30 million, according to consultant Gregg Guerrettaz at the council’s last meeting.
Those racino appropriations are a point of contention for at least one of the dissenting votes, while Mayor Tom DeBaun said including racino and Economic Development Income Tax funds in the budget helps create transparency.
Part of the racino funds in the budget will be used for police and fire, in case the state decides the general fund budget is too big.
The state will return that decision as late as February.
By appropriating racino funds on the actual budget, it gives a clearer picture of how much the city actually spends, DeBaun said.
The budget usually has a total of about $18 million in appropriations, while the city actually spends $28 to $30 million, according to consultant Gregg Guerrettaz at the council’s last meeting.
While the city’s budget might now reflect a better idea of how much the city spends, Carmony said he would like the council to vote for each racino expenditure.
“I think it would be best to keep the racino fund separate,” Carmony said.
DeBaun and Carmony called their disagreement a different in philosophy and bookkeeping.
...“I think it would be best to keep the racino fund separate,” Carmony said.
DeBaun and Carmony called their disagreement a different in philosophy and bookkeeping.
http://www.shelbynews.com/articles/2013/10/09/news/doc52547240af62a570387033.txt
