By JOHN SWEENEY
Published: May 26, 2011
Florence City Council is closing in on first reading of its budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
City Manager David Williams presented council with additional budgetary information during a budget work session Thursday at the city’s news fire station 5.
The meeting was a continuation of council’s May 17 workshop where Williams, who will retire Sept. 30, outlined what will be his final budget as city manager.
Williams brought council up to speed on several issues Thursday, including the city’s unreserved and undesignated fund balance as well as recommending the establishment of a fund balance policy to ensure the city will have funds available in case of an emergency.
Williams said the fund would benefit the city in the event of natural disasters, impress creditors and should represent 32.4 percent of the previous year’s budgeted general fund expenditures.
Williams also briefed council on one time expenditures and requests that had not been calculated into the budget that that council needs to consider before final reading.
Possible expenditures total $379,000 and include items such as new playground equipment at Timrod and Maple parks as well as a leisure services activity bus and contribution to the city’s finance and human resources management systems software overhaul.
That project, a portion of which is included in the 2011-2012 budget, will update the city’s computer network and is expected to cost $600,000 over the next two years.
Williams said an ordinance to adopt the budget is prepared but will be adjusted after council holds first reading and before final reading and adoption.
Mayor Stephen J. Wukela said council may hold another budget work session before first reading, which will occur sometime in the first two weeks of June.
The next scheduled council meeting is June 13 at 6 p.m., and council members hope to have first reading then at the latest.
The budget must be adopted by June 30. The new fiscal year begins July 1.