Sparta Comfortably Passes Budget For New Fiscal Year

Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a $5.4 million budget for the new fiscal year with no city property tax increases.

The budget is the same amount as last year, but all the departments received capital projects in the budget. City Administrator Brad Hennessee said completing the budget during the uncertainties of Covid is a success.

“We are glad to have it done,” Hennessee said. “We have had our budget done essentially for two months, but we were waiting for the tax rate certification to be done by the state.”

Hennessee said Sparta’s strong financial backing allowed the city to comfortably pass the budget. The city projects a conservative $700,000 increase in revenue.  If a decrease in sales tax happens in the future, Sparta has the funds needed to continue operations.

“Sparta’s financial position allows it to, if we have more short falls than anticipated, the reserves will be tapped into,” Hennessee said. “Any short falls will be made up from the reserves the city has unhand.”

Hennessee said revenues from last year’s city sales tax increase are starting to come in. The sales tax increased in November to 2.75 percent.

“I have only been here about a year, but from what I have seen the city has been well managed over the last several years,” Hennessee said. “It really has helped improved its outlook during time of uncertainties. That is credited to past administrators, past board members and present board members.”