Alexander's proposed 2024 budget tabled to add detail; Treasurer resigns

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The Alexander City Council, in a split vote, tabled the proposed city budget for 2024. Council Member Juanita Wilson explained that past budgets included a breakdown of pay to each employee.

"Well, it doesn't have anything itemized, anybody's pay, anyone who's getting paid, how many hours," Wilson said.

"Listen, that wasn't in the last budget," said Jennifer Hill.

"It is always in the budget," Wilson responded.

Hill is the city hall Office Manager. She is also the City Treasurer for the City of Haskell. Apparently it was Hill who wrote the proposed 2024 budget.

"I've read through this," said Council Member Harold Timmerman. "There's no individual pay for any department member, street department, fire department, anybody. The City Council's not even mentioned.

Below are the budgets for the Payroll Account. On the left is a portion of the Payroll Budget for 2023. On the right is the proposed Payroll Budget for 2024. Highlighted in red on the left are the payments for elected officials. On the right, in red, are the total wages for each department. No wages for elected officials. (Insets are used to expand text.)

Below are the Police Department budgets from 2023 and the proposed budget for 2024. Using them as an example of another of the issues expressed by Wilson and Timmerman, the 2023 budget on the left lists each employee with their pay. The 2024 budget on the right only provides a total cost of wages. (Insets are used to expand text.)

One issue that wasn't mentioned directly, but is still in contrast with how budgets have been done in the past, is the collection and distribution of Alexander's Sales and Use Taxes (SUT). The city collects SUTs from four sources. The base SUT is Alexander's share of the state's Sales and Use Tax. SUT 1, SUT 2 and SUT 3 are each a one-cent city sales tax approved by voters in three referendums.

SUT 1 was approved in the early 2000s. Per the referendum the entire one-cent is dedicated to funding the fire department.

Not long after, SUT 2 was approved by voters. This time the referendum stipulated that two-eighths of the one-cent is dedicated to parks and recreation. The remaining six-eighths is to be, "(D)ivided between the fire department and police department." Traditionally one-eighth has gone to the fire department and five-eighths goes to the police department.

SUT 3 is a one-cent sales tax approved by voters in November, 2017. This sales tax is dedicated to the General Fund and can be spent for any purpose.

All SUTs are deposited into the General Fund first. SUT 1 and SUT 2 are then distributed to the fire, police and park funds.

Below, the 2023 General Fund budget on the left shows all four SUTs being deposited into the fund. The proposed 2024 budget only shows the SUT from the state. (Insets are used to expand text.)

"So, why now things are a problem," asked Council Member Joy Gray. "(W)hen I brought this up for years and it was like, oh, it's all just fine, just pass it."

In the vote to table the proposed 2024 budget until the January 22 meeting, voting "Yes" were Joe Pollard, Mitchell W. Smith, Harold Timmerman, and Juanita Wilson. Voting "No" were Joy Gray, Angela Griffin and Gina Thomas-Littlejohn. Because Council Member Tony Staton was absent he is counted as a "No" vote. With the vote tied four to four the mayor is only allowed by law to cast a "Yes" vote to pass any motion.

City Treasurer resigns

City Treasurer JoAn Churchill submitted a resignation letter to the Alexander City Council. Her resignation became effective December 31, 2023.

After serving as city treasurer for around 10 years, Churchill pulled no punches explaining why she is leaving early.

"With a sad heart I am resigning my elected position one year prior to the end of my term," Churchill began. "Effective 12/31/2023 I resign my position of City Treasurer."

As for why Churchill said, "Due to the various conditions; namely the state is slow to act, (not a complaint); a corrupt mayor, and a biased City Attorney, I find this is a proper and orderly solution."

"I have been unable to produce my expected duties for the entire past year, because of the newly elected corruption: the alterations to passwords; the removal of credentials to access the system I have used for the past decade, and finally a majority of indecisive council; adding those concerns to my personal aging process, which seems to be full of daily surprises all it’s own, it is the best decision for all concerned to take this action," she concluded.

The city council will now have to begin a search for her replacement. This election year the offices of both city treasurer and city recorder will appear on the ballot in November.

2022 Budget finally closed out

A resolution to amend and close out the 2022 budget was approved by council members six to two. Council Member Juanita Wilson objected to the format, since it strays from how budgets were amended in the past.

Previously, the final amended version of a budget appeared in budget form. This resolution, written by City Attorney Chris Madison, provided a list of the changes for each fund in the budget. Madison was on vacation and wasn't there to answer Wilson's questions.

Voting "Yes" to approve the resolution were Joy Gray, Angela Griffin, Gina Thomas-Littlejohn, Joe Pollard, Mitchell W. Smith, and Harold Timmerman. Wilson was the only member present who voted "No," Because Council Member Tony Staton was absent he is counted as a "No" vote.

Next Meeting

Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday falling on the third Monday in January, the next meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, January 22, 6:00 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex. The public is invited to attend.