New Budget Fails In Monterey

Monterey Aldermen voted against a new budget Tuesday without any discussion.

Alderman J.J. Reels said after the meeting he had questions about the budget and the process of approving it.

“There’s some things funded in the budget that we were questioning, and the biggest thing is we didn’t have a lot of chance to sit down as a group and actually go over the budget,” Reels said. “It was kind of like the department heads came in, proposed what they wanted to do, and that was it. Let’s discuss the items.”

The $4.7 million budget includes a 3-percent raise for city employees and $133,000 for purchasing new vehicles. Officials also proposed increasing the tax rate 3-cents to $1.36.

The board of aldermen approved the budget on first and second reading earlier this month. Reels said he would consider approving the proposed budget on final reading after a little more discussion between board members.

“My thing is, we’re stewards for the citizens of Monterey, and if we’re not doing right by them with their money, then we’re not doing the service they elected us to do,” Reels said. “I’m okay with the $1.36, but let’s just go over the budget and see how it’s going to benefit or affect the budget.”

State law requires Monterey to have a new budget passed by July 1st. Until that happens, Monterey will be funding the new fiscal year with appropriations from the current budget ordinance. Tennessee Code Annotated requires the collection of sufficient revenues to support the continuing appropriations.

A new date for voting on the final reading of the budget has not been announced.