Two City Employees Cut From West Tawakoni Budget

West Tawakoni’s controversial budget cuts became a reality Tuesday night.

By a split vote, the city council approved a 2008-2009 budget package that will eliminate one police officer and one water and sewer department employee when the fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

The overall budget was divided as well — different categories grouped into "A" and "B" sections — to allow council member Candy Schultz to vote on the "B" package.

Schultz is the wife of West Tawakoni Police Chief Jack Schultz. The police department budget was included in the "A" section.

She and Gerald Roseburg voted against the "B" budget in its passage, 3-2. Roseburg opposed the "A" budget in a 3-1 vote with Schultz abstaining due to conflict of interest.

"I can’t support any budget that does away with city employees," Roseburg said before the voting on the two budget packages and a third vote for the resolution adopting the budgets. That also drew a 3-2 vote with Roseburg and Schultz opposing.

Included in the new budget is a general fund totaling $709,852.50, which includes the police department. The water and sewer department budget was set at $1,059,719.28.

It will result in a 2.99 percent property tax increase in West Tawakoni to a rate of .447505 per $100 valuation. That tax rate is expected to be adopted at the council’s Sept. 9 meeting.

City administrator Cloy Roberts said the new general fund budget shows a surplus of $4,700 while the water and sewer budget balanced.

During council comments, Carol Solomon explained her support of the budget proposals.

"This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but I am totally against running on a deficit budget," she said.

"It was hard to do but I feel we’ve got to be on a good budget, not on deficit spending," council member Winston Dennis added.

Earlier in the budget discussion, council members spoke briefly with West Tawakoni Volunteer Fire Department Cpt. Jeff Felts, who attended the meeting along with firefighter James Felts.

Cpt. Felts said he wanted to work to "smooth things over" with the city about the absence of activity and financial reports for the fire department.

The city does not have plans to provide any funding for the fire department in the new budget. Roberts said a contingency fund of $4,868.86 is available should the council want to move that money into a fire department line item.

"Whatever I can do for the city, I have no problem with it," Cpt. Felts said. "I’m proud to represent the fire department, and I like West Tawakoni and the people here."

Mayor Pete Yoho reiterated some stipulations in a letter the city recently issued to the fire department, calling for activity reports each month at council meetings and bank account statements submitted to the city office no later than the 10th of each month.

In other matters, the council approved an abandonment of a utility easement on lots at 1901 and 1905 Geneva St., and approved the city’s quarterly investment report as of Aug. 6.

Roberts spoke briefly near the end of the meeting about a need to begin work on updating the city’s ordinance on gaming machines.