Council makes preliminary budget decisions

The Whitesboro City Council has begun work on its annual budget. Among the items being discussed are the acquisition of land for the expansion of the cemetery and the extension of 4th Street to Highway 377.

Counsel members met Tuesday, June 26 for a special workshop meeting to discuss the items.

“We were just trying to rank our projects so the city administrator would know where to concentrate the budget. The immediate thing that came up is that we have a limited number of spaces in the current cemetery,” said W.D. Welch, Whitesboro Mayor.

Because the land would have to be developed, it would require a significant budgetary commitment. The land would require money to be surveyed and for roads and fences to be built, in addition to money for the actual purchase of the property.

The council decided to begin the acquisition process this year and begin developing it in sections later. “We will probably try to acquire some of the cemetery property this year and in some of the budget next year we will try to start developing,” Welch said.

The extension of 4th Street has also been discussed in detail. Welch said the city has already acquired the needed right of ways from property owners to begin the project, but will first have to relocate several facilities before beginning the construction.

“We are going to have to relocate two ball fields that are used extensively during the parks and recreation's season and the city yard,” Welch said. This project will require a lot of time and planning. Welch expected the city to begin relocating the facilities this year and begin the developing in stages next year.

“When we start talking about doing these big projects we have to have an anticipation of, where are going to put people. What are we going to do with the city yard? What are we going to do with the ball fields?” Welch said.

The council has also begun planning for special departmental needs such as new vehicles and machinery. “We came in there with a list of the thing that all the different department heads think that we need,” Welch said.

“What we were attempting to do is to do a little brainstorming and get our priorities in line so when the city administrator starts to put together a budget he can anticipate what we're looking at,” Welch said.

Counsel members will have some preliminary figures for the budget this week and they will hold special budgetary meetings on July 24 and 26 to finalize the budget, said Michael Marter, Whitesboro City Administrator.