Bluff City approves first reading of water and sewer budget amendment
Summary
The board approved the first reading of Ordinance 2025-010, an amendment to the fiscal-year budget for water and sewer operations intended to close a shortfall noted by the comptroller; changes include shifting a portion of the city manager’s compensation and insurance to general fund.
Bluff City approved the first reading of Ordinance 2025-010, an amendment to the 2025–26 water and sewer budget designed to eliminate a deficit the comptroller identified.
City staff told the board the comptroller found the water and sewer budget about $58,000 short, and staff revised line items to bring the budget into balance. Among the changes, staff proposed keeping the city manager’s pay and insurance in the water-and-sewer budget but reducing the portion charged to those funds from 35% to 30%; staff said the remaining share of salary and insurance would be charged to the general fund.
“The changes ended up totaling to $61,000, which gives us enough to get us over the threshold,” the mayor said when presenting the revised budget. Alderwoman moved to approve the ordinance for first reading; another council member seconded the motion. The council approved the ordinance on first reading by a recorded yes vote and will return it for subsequent readings as required by local ordinance procedures.
City staff said the amendment is intended to avoid triggering a comptroller-mandated rate study and potential automatic increases; the funding changes adjust several budget lines and reduce some padding while keeping contingency where necessary.
