Sparta Kicks Off Budget Season With First Work Session

Sparta will have its first budget meeting for the upcoming fiscal year Monday night.

City Administrator Brad Hennessee said city officials will review the expected operating budget and its ARP money which has yet to be earmarked.

“My recommendation will be that it is spent on facility upgrades,” Hennessee said. “Our department heads have identified what we would anticipate over the next three to five years in facility upgrades.”

Hennessee said he has a list of projects, but he wants the preliminary revenue numbers to be shared at Monday’s meeting before further discussion. However,  Hennessee said the city will continue its paving cycle first then see what projects can be funded.

“We’re off on a good start on an aggressive paving cycle, and we’ve been very aggressive on water and sewer infrastructure upgrades the past few years, ” Hennessee said. “So, we’ll maintain those first.”

As for operation costs, Hennessee said the biggest increase he expects in the operating budget is fuel and supplies such as chemicals. Hennessee said the department head requests will come to the Board of Aldermen through his report.

“Im trying to put it all in a format that is easily understandable but have it to where we can stop and discuss individual items or figure sections of it at a time and facilitate the conversation between the Aldermen,” Hennessee said.