Henderson forms group to examine city budget

The Henderson City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to establish a special ad hoc committee to examine the city’s budget.

At the May 21 council meeting, City Manager Jacob Snow recommended that the council empanel the committee.

Last week, Snow said Henderson offers its residents a “tremendous value” with its low property tax rate.

But, he added, “I don’t see how we can continue to go forward without making some sort of group of changes for how the city does business, because we have been deferring capital projects, street maintenance, replacement of equipment, and we don’t have the funds to be able to sustain all those things without eliminating services.”

Committee appointments will be made in July. It will have 21 members who either live or do business in Henderson.

The committee will work with city staff to review cuts the city has made, future unseen expenditures caused by deferred maintenance, and recently observed effects on service delivery.

Snow said the committee will begin holding public meetings later this summer. Meeting times and agendas will be posted on the city’s website at www.cityofhenderson.com.

“We want our budget process and we want the finances of the city to be more transparent,” Snow said. “And we want the public to know what’s at stake.”

The committee will be asked to make recommendations that take into account cost containment, additional budget reductions and opportunities for increased revenue. The recommendations will be presented to the council in early 2014 for its consideration as the next budget is created.

“I think it’s going to be a great learning exercise, and I think it’ll be an eye-opener for a lot of people,” Snow said.

At its May 21 meeting, the City Council approved a $480 million budget for fiscal 2014, which begins July 1. After years of cuts, the city’s new spending plan has a slight increase — just a few thousand dollars — over the previous budget.

City officials also are projecting a $7.2 million deficit. A year ago, they were projecting a $13.5 million deficit.

Snow has said he expects the city to have a balanced budget by the end of fiscal 2014.

Contact reporter Carri Geer Thevenot at cgeer@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.