City On Track To Pass Budget June 20

The Bourbon Board of Aldermen is likely to pass a budget June 20 for the fiscal year 2017.

Aldermen had their first budget hearing April 25 and another on May 16.

Preliminary budgets were presented at the April meeting. From the city hall budget, City Clerk Cathy Bremer said she deducted $13,684 for the workman’s compensation refund received from Traveler’s Insurance.

At the time, the city was in a high-risk pool under the workman’s comp plan. The employee, who is no longer employed by the city, had high claims. The city switched plans to Missouri Rural Services Workman’s Comp Trust.

Discussion was held on possibly adding another employee to the street, water and sewer departments. Public Works Director Mark McEuen said it was possible, as some days he needs another full-time employee. Mike Gazaway currently works two days per week for street and water and three days per week for sewer.

Court

After the city voted to shut down its municipal court system last year, the budget is down to $11,120 for income and expenditures. A release of general revenues is expected to cover expenditures for the coming year. The city must still pay City Prosecutor Jake Brandt for his services. Another $500 is budgeted for any special prosecutors that may be called to appear in case of conflicts involving Brandt or City Attorney Robert Davis.

Police

The police budget was presented as $260,000. At the end of March, only six months of the new half-cent sales tax had been collected.

Street

The street department budget was presented at $158,375. A ground maintenance line item was added and capital expenditures of $12,000 was projected. The money is likely to be spent if the city receives a community development block grant for the Pine Street rebuild.

Park

The park department’s budget was presented at $32,750. The park’s only revenues come from sales tax, real estate tax and pavilion rental fees.

Water

The water department budget was presented at $304,047, which includes the release of restricted water tower maintenance funds of $48,000 for the painting contract. The capital expenditures amount was increased slightly to help cover costs of replacing some of the water lines on the proposed Pine Street rebuild.

Sewer

The sewer budget was presented at $222,305. Wagers were left higher to help cover the costs of hiring temporary employees to work on the Pine Street rebuild, if necessary.

Sewer manager Doug Montgomery said he has not asked for a raise in the past two years and was looking for a $2 per hour increase.

Ward 2 Alderman Mary Heywood asked if the employees received a cost of living allowance in the last year. Bremer said yes, at 2 percent. Wages were increased again to 2 percent across the board. Police department employees are the exception, as they work on six-month and one-year anniversary raises.