Council’s finance committee gets started with review of 2015-16 city budget

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Friday, April 17, 2015, 12:30 a.m. — The Bardstown City Council’s Finance Committee was presented with draft copies of the city’s 2015-16 $45 million budget at its special meeting Thursday.

Mayor John Royalty, center, discusses the new budget review process with members of the city council’s finance committee.

Mayor John Royalty — co-chairman of the committee — presented copies of the budget to its members, which include co-chairman Councilman Bobby Simpson, Councilmen Roland Williams and Fred Hagan, and Chief Financial Officer Tracy Hudson.

Royalty explained to the committee that the budget process is going to be very different under his administration, and that change will require more input from the council.

Earlier budgets were first reviewed by the mayor, then presented to the council, usually in May with approval necessary by the end of June. Over the years, members of the council frequently complained about getting the budget so late they lacked sufficient time to review it.

“You’ve gotten this budget a whole lot quicker than we ever have in the past,” Royalty told the committee. “I have not touched this budget at all, it is directly from the department heads.”

Royalty explained that the changes are intended to give the council members a chance to be more involved in the budget process. The change prompted some questions from the committee about the exact role of the mayor and council in approving and amending the budget.

Royalty said he wanted the various council committees to be involved with the budgeting process. The finance committee has the chance to evaluate the budget.

After the committees and finance committee complete their work, the mayor will review the amended budget. After Royalty’s review, he will present the budget it to the full city council.

The committee members questioned if changes they want in the budget will survive the mayor’s review. “If you already know there’s something you’re definitely going to eliminate we want to know,” Williams told the mayor. “It’ll help us.”

Once he presents the his budget, Royalty said the council has the opportunity to discuss — and amend — it. “It’s not all what I want (in the budget),” Royalty said. “It’s what the council wants too. I know its different, but I’m trying to bring everyone in to be involved.”

NEXT UP. The Bardstown City Council meets next at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 21 in the City Council annex on Xavier Drive.

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