With the state deadline for municipal budget submission looming, Starkville Director of Finance/City Clerk Taylor Adams said the city is right on track.
Adams, who moved into the position vacated by retiring Markeeta Outlaw in July, said the alderman should be presented with a budget by Sept. 4.
Adams said that he and his department have been working tirelessly to draft a budget document to best meet the city’s needs. Adams and members of the Audit and Budget Committee met Wednesday to smooth out the financial details.
The Audit and Budget Committee is made up of Ward 2 Alderman Sandra Sistrunk, Ward 3 Alderman Eric Parker and Ward 6 Alderman Roy A. Perkins. Lynn Spruill, the Chief of Administrative Offices, is heading the committee.
The proposed budget will be presented to Starkville citizens at a public hearing prior to the Board’s meeting on Sept. 4. The date of the public hearing has not been set, however. After the public hearing, the budget draft will then be presented to the Board of Alderman on Sept. 4.
Adams did not divulge precise figures, but said that the Fiscal 2013 budget should be within one percent of last year’s budget, which was approximately $16,854,000.
“I thought the group that put the budget together made reasonable and conservative estimates,” Sistrunk said. “Before we looked at our final budget, we got a report on the sales tax numbers. They were very positive and continue to be very strong. They made me feel very comfortable with the estimate for sales tax for Fiscal Year 2013.”
Adams, a 1999 graduate of Mississippi State University. has taken on an expanded role in city hall. In addition, to performing the tasks generally associated with the city clerk’s position, he will also play a vital role in strategic forecasting and market analysis. Grant applications will also be an area of focus, he said.
“Grant administration is a big piece of municipal financial management,” said Adams.
The 2013 Fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30 2013.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
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